Congress returns to Power in Karnataka, BJP Decimated

Congress returned to power in Karnataka after seven years defeating the BJP by a huge margin. The party secured a clear majority on its own in 223-member assembly polls. It was a disappointing moment for BJP that stood neck and neck with Janata Dal Secular on the second spot.

BS Yeddyurappa, who played a role of spoiler and was responsible for BJP’s rout, his newly formed party Karnataka Janata Paksha could not make a mark and managed to win just a handful of seats. He won from Shikaripura by over 15,000 votes.

Congress managed to sweep the urban votes in Bangalore where corruption was rampant. It also got maximum votes in north and central Karnataka. In contrast, BJP was wiped out in coastal Karnataka, Mumbai-Karnataka, Hyderabad-Karnataka and Central Karnataka districts. It suffered a major blow when the votes were counted in its strongholds including Udupi, Mangalore, Karwar, Shimoga, Hubli-Dharwad, Belgaum, Haveri, Davanagere, Tumkur, Mysore and parts of Bangalore.

Lingayats, the largest caste in the state, played a key role in bringing Congress to power, as their 40% votes went to the party. Votes were divided between the Congress and the JDS in Vokkaliga dominated Old Mysore.

The BJP accepted people’s mandate. Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar will resign this evening.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi congratulated the party workers. She said that it is a joint effort and legislators, who will decide the chief ministerial candidate in the state.
Reacting to the polls results, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says “Karnataka election results is a defeat of an ideology.”

The victory brought huge relief to Congress, which is facing heats for a series of scams, railway bribery and change in the Coalgate report. The party leaders look more confident for the general elections. On the victory, Kamal NAth says, “Match is over, BJP has had an innings defeat, now they’ll blame the match, the ball and the pitch”.

Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said that People of Karnataka have given a befitting reply to the BJP that constantly talks about corruption.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh criticised BJP for projecting Modi as key campaigner. He said that BJP lost due to its own fault. “It also shows no one knows Narendra Modi outside Gujarat. It has been proved again by Karnataka”, he added.

Karnataka Polls Results

Total seats 223                   Majority 112