She defeated noted Kannada writer K. Marulasiddappa who contested as an independent with the support of the opposition Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S). The actor won by 106 votes to 94.

The ruling BJP has 106 members, including speaker, in the assembly while Congress-JD-S together have 97.

The poll was held to fill the vacancy created following the death of M. Rajashekara Murthy of the JD-S last December.

Hema Malini would be a member till April, 2012, when Murthy's term would have expired. She was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha 2003-09.