In the Karnataka assembly elections people voted in favour of BJP giving them 110 assembly seats, just 3 seats short of the requisite 113 seats for a simple majority in a house of 224 seats. While the Congress I managed to get 80 seats, the Janata Dal (S) won 28 seats and the independents won 6 seats.
The credit of giving BJP a chance to rule in Karnataka, not with a thumping majority or a landslide win, but only with 110 seats, with a stumble near the winning poll only to be helped by the independents to form a government, goes to the people of Karnataka, who had suffered from all sorts of political instability, mudslinging, horse trading, uncertainties and all sorts of political gimmicks, ever since they voted in the assembly elections in the year 2004.Kudos to the people of Karnataka!
Mr.Ediyurappa has been elected as the leader of the BJP assembly members and he is to stake his claim to form the new government in Karnataka.It is expected that he may be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, the day after tomorrow.
Prominent winners in the assembly elections are Ediyurappa (BJP),Sithalingaiah (Congress I), Kumarasamy (Janata Dal(S)), while the prominent losers are Dharamweer(Congress I) and Bangarappa (BSP).
The BSP which has contested in more than 200 seats, drew a blank, which shows that it has no political base in Karnataka.
When we proceed to analyze the causes for the outcome of the election, it shows that the results of exit polls cannot be relied upon, because one view that there will be a hung assembly (of Loyola college,Chennai)and another view that the BJP will have an absolute majority in the election (of NDTV),both were proved wrong.
The results of the assembly elections showed that the people of Karnataka voted in favor of a stable government devoid of all sorts of mudslinging. The factors that tilted the results in favor of BJP were sympathy factor in favor of Ediyurappa who was stabbed on his back rather treacherously by JD(S), the unprincipled and opportunistic alliance that was forged between BJP and JD(S) to form the government, that plunged Karnataka into political turmoil and instability, long term and clear-cut election strategy of the BJP by focusing Ediyurappa as the Chief Minister and selection of candidates at the grass-root level in a more democratic manner than other parties, well orchestrated, sustained and planned campaign in a phased manner ever since the dates of elections were announced in Karnataka, the rise of inflation to a near 8 %,the price rise of all the essential commodities to an unpredented level, especially the food grains and vegetables were some of the major factors that worked in favor of BJP.
As far as Congress I was concerned, its lackluster performance in the assembly election was due to lack of long term plan and election strategy, lack of focus on the chief ministerial candidate even after deputing S.M.Krishna to Karnataka to head the election campaign, rise of inflation to all-time high and price rise etc were the factors that went against their favor. Congress I has not shown any improvements in its tally of seats and its performance has been static since the last assembly elections held in 2004.
As far as JD(S) was concerned, their dismal performance in the assembly elections indicates that the people of Karnataka, has disapproved all its political activities, policies and strategies of the past and so they were rejected outright. Their poor performance in the elections also indicates that the people could not be taken for granted and their approval could not be obtained for what they had done in the past after 2004 elections, in forming an unprincipled alliance with the BJP, rank opportunism in forming a government, their political treachery etc.
The results of assembly elections in Karnataka is very significant, since it will have far reaching ramifications in the National politics because BJP has made its inroads in South India and has captured power in a southern state for the first time, which will have its impact in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the year 2009.BJP being labeled as a communal party, the results in Karnataka, will be an eye opener to all the secular parties in the years to come. As far as neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu is concerned,the problem of Hogenakal water project will become more tougher and complicated.
It seems that the people of Karnataka has given their verdict in favor of BJP, only to have a stable government in the state and let us hope for the best in the years to come.