Congress wins Karnataka, BJP routed

Congress wins Karnataka, BJP routed

www.mangaloretoday.com

Bangalore, May 8, 2013: The Congress pulled off an easy win in Karnataka assembly elections on Wednesday as the party appeared all set to form the government on its own with around 121 seats in its kitty.

The BJP, which had triumphantly showcased its southern bastion while pitching for respect as a national party, was decimated to just 40 seats in the 224 member assembly (elections were held only in 223 seats following the death of a BJP candidate in Mysore district).

Victory in the battle for the Vidhan Soudha has come as a breath of fresh air for Congress’ rank and file and also as optimistic news for the party leadership which has been battling multiple allegations of graft/impropriety against its ministers at the Centre.

Embolden by the win, the UPA government adjourned the Parliament sine dine today, two days ahead of schedule.

The BJP has itself to blame for the humiliating loss. Saddled by corruption, infighting within the cadre and rebellion by BS Yeddyurappa, it was all the way down hill for the party that dreams of occupying the South Block in 2014.

The other big story is the hard lesson learnt by BS Yeddyurappa – no individual is bigger than the party. His party, KJP, is set to win just 8 seats.

JD(S) of the Gowdas fared better with it set to win 40 seats. However, Kumaraswamy’s wish to play kingmaker would have to wait another five years as the Congress is set to secure simple majority.

Key candidates
Congress
Won: Priyank M Kharge (Chittapur), Dinesh Gundurao (Gandhi Nagar), Roshan Baig (Shivajinagar), Siddaramaiah (Varuna), Umashree (Terdal), Ajay Dharmsingh (Jevargi), Ramalinga Reddy (BTM Laylout), MP Patila (Babaleshwar), RV Deshpande (Haliyal), K Gopal Poojary (Byndoor), Pramod Madwaraj (Udupi), Vinay Kumar Sorake (Kapu), UT Khader (Mangalore), Shakuntala Shetty (Puttur), K Abhayacharya (Moodabidri), HS Mahadeva Prasad (Gundlupet), K Sudhakar (Chikballapur), Makbul S Bagawan (Bijapur City), RV Devraj (Chickpet), Tanveer Sait (Narasimhraja)

Lost: CM Ibrahim (Bhadravati), MCVenugopal (Jayanagar), S Kumar Bangarrapa (Sorab), Bhart Paragouda Patil (Ramdurg)

BJP
Won: Govind Karjol (Mudhol), Anant Hegde (Sirsi), Jagadish Shettar (Hubli-Dharwad Central), Arvind Bellad (Hubli-Dharwad West), V Sunil Kumar (Karkal), KG Bopaiah (Virajpet), Ravi Subramanya (Basavangudi), Satish Reddy (Bommanahalli), BN Vijay Kumar (Jayanagar), Bharamgoud Alagoud Kage (Kagwad), B Suresh Gowda (Tumkur Rural)

Lost: B Sudhakar Shetty (Udupi), AV Byregowda (Chikballapur)

JD(S)
Won: HD Kumaraswamy (Ramanagaram), HD Revanna (Holenarasipur), S Chikkamadu (Heggadadevankot), DR Shivraj Patil (Raichur)

Lost: Anitha Kumaraswamy (Channapatna)

KJP/Others
Won: BS Yeddyurappa (KJP) - Shikaripura, US Banakar (KJP) – Hirekerur, B Sreeramulu (BSRC) – Bellary, Sambhaji Patil (Ind) – Belgaum South, CP Yogeshwar (Channapatna), Santeesh Sail Krishna (Ind) - Karwar

Lost: Manjunath Vandal (BSRC) – Indi, Pooja Gandhi (BSRC) - Raichur

Elections were held to 223 segments on Sunday, after the one in Periyapatna in Mysore district was countermanded to May 28 following the death of BJP candidate. At 71.29 per cent, the voter turnout was the second highest in the state history, after 71.90 per cent in 1978.