Even though Karnataka has seen an upsurge of Modi wave, by getting nine out of 28 seats, the State is the only saving grace for the trounced Congress in the country. Congress, which had won six seats in 2009, could secure three more adding to the total of nine seats. Even though, the Modi wave has engulfed the Congress across the country, Karnataka's nine seats victory for the drowning party looks a straw support. In fact three former Union Ministers — M Veerappa Moily, Mallikharjuna Kharge and Muniyappa — won from Karnataka adding to the list of victorious Congress Ministers.
Though taking responsibility for the rout, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has refused to resign saying the verdict was against his Government. He said he would not resign, as the results were not a referendum on the performance of his one year of governance or the programmes implemented in the State. He said the people had voted for the BJP on national issues, as they wanted a change after 10 years of a Congress-led UPA Government.
Meanwhile, the State BJP has demanded Siddaramaiah to quit. BJP general secretary and MP from Bangalore South Ananth Kumar has asked the Chief Minister to take the cue from his Assam counterpart Tarun Gogoi, and resign.An analysis of voting in Karnataka shows Modi wave has propelled saffron party to a 2.2 per cent swing to 43 per cent in the recently held elections which is higher than its tally of 41.63 per cent in 2009 elections.
The Congress has get 40.8 per cent, while the AAP which contested for the first time has got just 0.8 per cent votes.JDS led by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda secured 11 per cent vote share, down from 13.57 it had amassed in the last lok Sabha polls. The party has won two seats.
A look at the Congress performance shows that all the Rahul men have been very badly defeated which include high profile billionaire Nandan Nilekani in Bangalore South. The Rahul team includes KPYCC president Rizwan Arshad (Bangalore Central), Ramya (Mandya), laxmi Hebbalkar (Belgaum), Vinay Kulkarni (Dharwad), Saleem Ahmed (Haveri) and Prashant R Deshapande (Uttara Kannada). Rahul Gandhi, who had not only ensured the candidature of his team, had also addressed rallies in their respective lok Sabha segments during his campaigns in the State.
In another political development, former Chief Minister and lingayat strongman BS Yeddyurappa has said that Narendra Modi and the BJP leadership would take a call on the issue of inducting him into the new Union Cabinet.He told the media after meeting the RSS leaders in Bangalore on Saturday that he has left this to Modi. He said, "It is left to Modi and all-India party leadership," Yeddyurappa told reporters here when asked whether he would be inducted in the Cabinet.
Attributing BJP's massive victory in the lok Sabha polls to Modi and party cadre, he also underscored the failure of the Congress."BJP has won the elections because of Modi, our work and failure of the Congress," he said. The senior BJP leader appreciated the work of RSS, saying the party has done well due to Sangh's support.
The BJP has won 17, Congress 9 and JD(S) 2 out of 28 constituencies.