Two prominent Lingayat leaders of North Karnataka- Laxman Savadi and Jagadish Shettar had grabbed the attention of the electorate after they quit the BJP and joined the Congress recently.

As per the early trend, Savadi is leading in Athani, Shettar is trailing in Hubli-Dharwad central. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has maintained a huge margin in Shiggaon constituency. KRPP founder G. Janardhan Reddy too is leading in Gangawati.

After the 7th round, Savadi is leading with about 25,000 votes against BJP’s Mahesh Kumathalli. Savadi has got 40,225 votes and Kumathalli has secured 15,218 votes.

In Hubli Dharwad Central, Jagadish Shettar is trailing by over 10,000 votes. BJP’s Mahesh Tenginakai has secured 27,459 votes after the 5th round whereas Shettar got 16,804 votes.

In Shiggavi, after the 6th round, Bommai is leading by over 18,000 votes. He has secured 37,931 votes. His nearest contestant is Congress’ Yathan Yasir Ahmed Khan of Congress who has secured 19,402 votes. Shashidhar Yeligar of JD(S) is in the third place with 4,674 votes.

Ramesh Jarkiholi who was trailing earlier is now leading. After the 6th round in Gokak constituency, Ramesh Jarkiholi has secured 21,571 votes and Kadadi Mahantesh Kallappa of Congress has secured 20,909 votes.

Interestingly, Minister B Sreeramulu of BJP is trailing in Bellary. After the 7th round, B. Nagendra of Congress has secured 41,844 votes and Sreeramulu has got 23,406 votes.

Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha (KRPP) founder and mining baron G. Janardhan Reddy is leading in Gangawati. He has secured 25,585 votes after Round 6. His nearest rival is Iqbal Ansari of Congress who has secured 19,616 votes.