The Hindu : Front Page : Hema Malini wins Rajya Sabha by-election

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Friday, Mar 04, 2011
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Hema Malini wins Rajya Sabha by-election

S. Rajendran

— Photo: V Sreenivasa Murthy

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa greets actor Hema Malini at the Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore on Thursday

BANGALORE: Actor Hema Malini, fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party for the by-election to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, won on Thursday by an unexpected margin of 12 votes against her rival K. Marulasiddappa (Independent), who was supported by the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular).

She will, however, have only a one-year term, ending on April 2, 2012. She enjoyed a full six-year term between 2003 and 2009 in the Upper House.

Of a total of 205 votes in the electoral college that comprised the Assembly members, the BJP enjoys a strength of 107, including Speaker K.G. Bopaiah and an Independent. The Congress and the JD(S) have a combined strength of 98. While Ms. Hema Malini's victory margin should have been nine, a record number of invalid votes resulted in a higher margin. Ms. Hema Malini polled 106 votes compared to 94 by Dr. Marulasiddappa.

Ms. Hema Malini, who has been in the city for the past few days, was at the Secretariat when the results were declared. Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and senior BJP leaders greeted her. Of the five invalid votes, one has been confirmed to be that of a BJP member (not a rebel though) and the remaining are believed to be those of JD(S) members.

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