Eshwarappa headed BJP's Karnataka unit as far back as 1993 when the party had just about four members in the Assembly.

Congress candidate Syed Nasser Hussain received 42 votes while L Hanumanthaiah and GS Chandrashekar bagged 44 and 46 votes respectively.

BJP's toughest battle will be in Uttar Pradesh, where the party is eyeing a ninth seat in addition to the eight it is set to win.

"Who is behind the dynastic politics in the country? Let Rahul Gandhi know that it is BJP which is trying to douse the fire lit by Congress...