"People's mandate is supreme; will continue to serve Channapatna": Nikhil Kumaraswamy post bypoll defeat

Speaking at his residence in Bidadi after the results, Nikhil accepted the verdict with humility and emphasized his determination to continue working for the people. "I bow to the decision of the people and respect their mandate. I am not someone who will abandon my party workers or be discouraged by setbacks. Despite this loss, I will not sit idle. I will fight on with renewed determination," he said.

Nikhil emphasized that democracy places the people's decisions above all. "This is my third electoral defeat, and I humbly accept it. I will remain in this constituency and serve the people. My heartfelt thanks to all the JD(S) and BJP workers and leaders who worked tirelessly for my campaign," he said.

He further clarified that his participation in the by-election was a last-minute decision made under challenging circumstances for the party. "This was an unanticipated by-election, but I stepped forward to contest when my party needed me. Despite limited time, 87,031 people voted for me. I will honour their trust and strive to fulfil the promises I made during the campaign," he added.

Acknowledging the disappointment from the election results, Nikhil remarked, "The outcome in Channapatna is indeed disheartening. However, receiving 87,031 votes as a young leader in such a short period is no small feat. This is not just a number but a reflection of people's trust. I will work diligently to repay this debt by serving them sincerely."

Reflecting on the lessons learnt, Nikhil said, "We will introspect where we went wrong, identify areas for improvement, and take decisions accordingly. This defeat will not discourage me. I will continue to work as the voice of the youth and a committed party worker."

Nikhil also credited the people of Ramanagara district for their unwavering support for his family. "Ramanagara's people have stood by my father, HD Kumaraswamy, and my grandfather, HD Deve Gowda, during their political journeys. My promises are not just limited to elections; I take them seriously and will fulfil them with sincerity," he affirmed.

Addressing a question about the consolidation of votes, Nikhil pointed out, "It is evident that the votes of a particular community have largely gone to Congress. The JD(S) has always stood for the welfare of this community, and Deve Gowda himself ensured reservations for them. Despite our contributions, they didn't vote for us. I don't wish to comment further on this matter."

Nikhil concluded by emphasizing the resilience of the JD(S) under the leadership of Deve Gowda. "Our party has faced numerous challenges and setbacks, yet we continue to move forward with composure and determination. Deve Gowda has rebuilt this party like a phoenix, and we will keep striving to represent all communities," he added.

In Karnataka, Congress put up an impressive show in the bye-elections by winning all three seats of Sandur, Channapatna and Shiggaon, the results of which were declared on Saturday.

Congress' Yasir Pathan defeated former CM Basavraj Bommai's son in Shigagaon while BJP turncoat CP Yogeshwara defeated HD Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil by a massive margin in Channapatna bypoll. The Congress Annapoorna Tukaram accepted the winning certificate from the returning officer after securing 93,616 votes, defeating BJP's Bangara Hanumantha by 9,649 votes in Sandur. (ANI)