After a delay of three years, bypolls were held for 58 ULBs, 57 GPs and nine ULB wards across Karnataka on Monday. Most ULBs have a fragmented mandate and the JD(S) can play the role of kingmaker in at least a dozen councils.
Voters have reacted to the divisive agenda of the BJP. The BJP government tried to divert attention by bringing in an anti-conversion law, but progressive Kannadigas realized that such issues were meant to serve the divisive forces, not anyone else. Consistent election results have clearly established that voters care most about price rise, falling income, jobs, rampant corruption and the BJP government’s apathy towards public welfare.
Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka
Congress claimed to have increased its support base with 42% vote share, while BJP and JD(S) got 36.9% and 3.8% votes respectively. Others got 17.2% marks.
Wave in favor of Congress: Siddaramaiah
Significantly, the Congress has performed well in BJP strongholds Vijayapura, Belagavi and Chikkamagaluru districts. In Vijayapura, the Congress has captured three of the six municipal corporations.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai suffered another setback as the Congress won the Bankapura municipality which comes under his Shiggaon constituency in Haveri district. Congress has won 14, BJP seven and Independents two. Similarly, Guttala Nagar Palika Parishad in Haveri taluk has followed the Congress path.
I do not agree with the view that the Congress or any other party has taken the lead. They cannot do without our support in many local bodies including Chikkamagaluru. We have won five seats in Devarahippargi in Vijayapura and opened our account in the coastal region by winning one seat in Kapu. Along with this, we will focus on getting a clear majority in the assembly elections.
HD Kumaraswamy, former CM and JD(S) leader
Bommai said the Congress fared better in these elections as most of these municipal corporations are “dominated by minorities”. In Bankapura, he said 65% of the votes belonged to minorities. “Don’t give them (Congress) happiness over this. We have won more gram panchayat seats. The results are also in our favor in municipal corporations. Wherever we BJP wins, we will do development work and work towards bringing the party to power,” he said. I will try. In future elections. Don’t let Siddaramaiah and Congress worry about it.”
Former Congress chief minister Siddaramaiah said: “The results show that public opinion is against the government and the wave is in favor of the Congress. Looking at this trend, we are 100% sure that the Congress will come back to power with a clear majority.” 2023 assembly elections.”
KPCC President DK Shivakumar He said the results reflect the mood of the people ahead of the assembly elections. “Usually, a ruling party does well in local body elections. But people have supported the Congress in both rural and urban areas,” he said.
BJP Minister KS Eshwarappa ridiculed Siddaramaiah’s claims and said: “They are as happy as a couple, having children after 25 years of marriage.”
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