Despite losing Mandya Lok Sabhaseat in the bypolls, the local BJP office was in a celebratory mood as this was the best ever performance of the party in the district in the Vokkaliga belt, a JDS stronghold. The Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) candidate L R Shivarame Gowda scored a spectacular victory in Mandya, defeating BJP's Siddaramaiah, apolitical green horn and former civil servant by 3,24,943 votes.

While Gowda got 5,69,347 votes, Siddaramaiah secured 2,44,404. Enthused by the party's performance BJP workers were seen congratulating Siddaramaiah and distributing sweets. The BJP's Karnataka state unit chief B S Yeddyurappa called the party's performance "heartening."