KOLAR, 20 AUG

In the first-ever elections to the newly formed Pattana Panchayat of Vemagal and Kurugal in Kolar district, the NDA has won ten of the seventeen seats, while the Congress won six. An Independent candidate bagged one. 

The elections were held on the 17th Aug and the counting was taken up on 20 Aug. 

Former Zilla Panchayat president CS Venkatesh, who hails from Vemagal, won the elections.  

Prominent Congress leaders, including District-in-charge Minister Byrathi Suresh, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who hails from Vemagal, had campaigned vigorously for their party candidates, but failed to sway their voters. On the other hand, former Lok Sabha member S Muniswamy, former Minister Vatthur Prakash campaigned for the NDA candidates and were able to win a larger number of seats for their alliance.  Vemagal and Kurugal, which were in a Gram Panchayat until recently, were merged to form the Pattana Panchayat. Former chief minister BS Yediyurappa announced the decision in 2019.