Congress Victory in Surpur By-Election: Raja Venugopal Naik Triumphs

In the 2024 by-election for the Surpur Assembly constituency, Congress candidate Raja Venugopal Naik emerged victorious, defeating BJP’s Narasimha Naik by 18,320 votes. This election, necessitated by the death of Raja Venkatappa Naik, saw his son, Raja Venugopal, secure 1,14,886 votes compared to Narasimha Naik’s 96,566.

The election, held on May 7 alongside the Phase 3 Lok Sabha polls, involved 2,14,183 of the 2,81,869 eligible voters. The Surpur constituency, reserved for Scheduled Tribes, witnessed a competitive history between the Naik families, with the late Raja Venkatappa Naik having bested Narasimha Naik in 2013 and 2023.