The Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) is helping the Congress in Govindrajnagar after the nomination of its candidate was rejected. JD-S president and former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda has even canvassed for Congress candidate Priya Krishna, who is contesting for the first time.

C.P. Yogeshwar vacated the Channapatna assembly seat he won as a Congress candidate to join the BJP and contest the Lok Sabha poll from Ramanagara against Yeddyurappa's predecessor H.D. Kumaraswamy of Janata Dal-Secular. Yogeshwar lost and is seeking election to the assembly again.

Ensuring the JD-S candidate's victory in Ramanagara has become imperative for Kumaraswamy, who quit the seat to enter Lok Sabha. The constituency is considered a JD-S stronghold.

While the Ramanagara assembly seat was held by JD-S, the other four were with the Congress. BJP is trying to get a foothold in these opposition strongholds.

Counting is on Aug 21.