Consistent Lead for Congress candidate

UDUPI: Congress candidate K Jayaprakash Hegde won the Udupi-Chikmagalur by-election by a margin of 45,724 votes by defeating the BJP candidate Sunil Kumar. Jayaprakash Hegde secured 3,98,723 votes and Sunil got 3,52,999 votes. JD (S) candidate Bhojegowda obtained 72,080 votes and lost the deposit.Hegde maintained the lead in all other constituencies except in Chikmagalur and Karkala assembly segments. Hegde got the highest lead of 11,423 votes in Udupi Assembly segment, 9,111 votes in Kundapura Assembly segment, 5,279 votes in Kaup Assembly segment, 5750 votes in Sringeri assembly segment, 8,813 votes in Mudigere  segment and 8781 votes in Tarikere Assembly. Sunil Kumar got a lead of 2,112 votes in Chikmagalur assembly segment and a lead of 1,312 votes in Karkala assembly segment. Counting of votes began at TA Pai English Medium High School, Kunjibettu here on Wednesday, at 8 am and concluded by 12 noon. Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner M T Reju handed over the winning  certificate to Hegde.