The by-election results to three legislative Assembly seats and Supreme Court verdict on the BJP rebel MLAs is likely to change the face of Karnataka politics.

In Channapatna constituency, BJP candidate Mr C.P. Yogeshwar defeated JDS candidate Mr S.L. Nagaraju by 17,803 votes. Mr Yogeshwar polled 75,275 votes, Mr Nagaraju 57,472 votes and Congress candidate Mr Raghunandan Ramanna 12,687 votes.

In Jagalur (ST) constituency, BJP's candidate Mr S.V. Ramachandra defeated his rival Mr H.P. Rajesh (Independent) by 4,437 votes. Mr Ramachandra got 41,961 votes, Mr Rajesh 37,524 votes. Congress candidate Mr Y. Devendrappa 28,625 votes and JDS candidate Mr Huchhavvanahalli Manjunath 3809 votes.

In Bangarpet (SC) constituency, Mr E.M. Naryanaswamy of the BJP defeated Mr K.M. Naryanaswamy of Congress by 4,044 votes. Mr E.M. Naryanaswamy polled 56,824 votes, Mr K.M. Naryanaswamy 52,780 votes and JDS candidate Mr C. Venkateshappa 9,255 votes.

The good news for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is that it wrested Bangarapet and Jagalur legislative assembly seats from Congress and Channapatna seat from Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) in the recent by-elections held last month.

But the bad news for the BJP is that the Supreme Court restored the membership of 16 legislators who were disqualified before a no-confidence vote against the BJP government last year (2010).

Of the 16 legislators, 11 are from the BJP and five are independents.

These legislators were disqualified by the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Mr K.G. Bopaiah, before the trial of strength on October 11.

With these two developments, the BJP's strength in the 224-member legislative assembly will be 109 plus the support of the lone Independent legislator, Mr Varthur Prakash. Congress continues with 71 and JDS 26. Now the restoration of 16 BJP rebels is likely to alter the House strength.

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