The Karnataka High court has set aside the election of BJP Lok Sabha member J Shantha from Bellary constituency. The High Court Judge Justice H Billappa set aside the election on the ground that irregularities were committed during the counting of votes. The court has also ordered re-counting to be completed within four weeks. Petitioner Chandregowda had challenged the election of J Shantha on the ground that there was manipulation in counting as Congress Candidate N Y Hanumantha Rao was leading in all the rounds, but for the last two rounds after which BJP candidate was declared winner with a margin of 2243 votes. Shantha is the sister of former Karnataka minister B Sreeramulu, who is a close aide of mining baron JanardhanReddy.