Chamarajanagar:  A lone ‘tusker’ from Kollegal Reserved Constituency is all set to enter the Vidhana Soudha this time.

N. Mahesh of BSP-JD(S) alliance (Elephant symbol) has won from Kollegal Constituency (71,792 votes) by defeating A.R. Krishnamurthy of Congress (52,338 votes).

Out of 14 elections held (including a by-poll) from the Constituency, Congress had won nine times and the Constituency was almost deemed a fortress of Congress Party. That theory has now been dispelled with Mahesh emerging victorious.

Incidentally, Mahesh had contested thrice with BSP ticket in 2004, 2008 and 2013 but lost.

Now, sticking to the party he has won in his fourth attempt and thus brought credit to the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) by opening an account in the Karnataka Assembly.