Karnataka local polls: Congress thrashes BJP

Karnataka local poll results declared (today) Monday saw the Congress landing a massive blow to the BJP by winning four major city corporations and capturing a sizeable margin of 1913 of the total tally of 1881 seats. The Congress party in the state won four of the seven major city corporations including Bellary, Davangere, Gulbarga and Mangalore.

The party did considerably well in the Dakshin Kannada as well. The Congress not only routed the BJP which forms the government in the state but also the newly formed Karnataka Janata Party. This win is also significant as the party also bought an end to the rule of the Bellary Brothers in Bellary by crushing the BSR congress across Central Karnataka.

The BJP on the other hand was not able to secure a single seat in the corporation. JDS on the other hand came second in Mysore. The Congress has also clearly benefitted from the multi cornered contest. Former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa’s party also lost its stronghold of Shimoga. However JDS headed by former prime minister P Deva Gowda managed to hold on to Old Mysore constituency.

Reacting to the resounding victory in the municipality polls a senior Congress leader stated that the people of Karnataka rejected the BJP as well as the BSR congress. He also stated that figures are more than enough to prove the Congress’ majority in the municipal elections. The Karnataka municipal poll by analysts was build up as the all important semifinal before state elections.

Clearly the BJP is finding it difficult to counter the resurgence of the congress as well as the counter effect of BSY’s newly formed party. The election trends show that urban voters have rejected the BJP and its offshoots the KJP and BSR. The results are also crucial as they can be seen as a sign of things to come in the stated election that is set to be held in a matter of two months. Over 200 municipalities and seven corporations went to polls in the 7th March elections.