BJP retains power in B’luru civic polls, setback for Cong
26 Aug 2015 6:09 AM IST
Upsetting the Congress’ plans to wrest control of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) with an all out offensive, the BJP won 100 <g data-gr-id="31">wards</g> of 198, as the results were declared by the State Election Commission for the polls held on August 22.
After sweeping the civic polls in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Bengaluru results make it three in a row for the BJP, which weathered an aggressive campaign led from the front by the Chief Minister himself against its rule in BBMP.
Congress bagged 76, JDS headed by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda 14 and others eight, according to BBMP officials.
Though marginally short of a simple majority mark of 103 in the 254-member council, the BJP is expected to draw on support from Independent councilors to reach the magic figure.
Admitting that the results are not according to his party’s expectations, Siddaramaiah said, “We had expected a simple majority for Congress.” He <g data-gr-id="40">said</g> “This result is not a referendum on my government, but as a Chief Minister I own the responsibility.”
Amid wild celebrations by the BJP, Union minister Ananth Kumar said: “This mandate shows that countdown has begun for Siddaramamaih and for the Congress.”
Union Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda said: “The results show that Siddaramaiah-led government has not taken off till now,” while BJP vice-president BS Yeddyurappa said the verdict “shows the relevance of Modi wave still.”
The elections were the culmination of a prolonged court battle, as the Siddaramaiah government sought to defer it on grounds of trifurcating BBMP, with the Opposition crying foul and accusing it of doing so out of fear of losing the polls.
A total of 1,121 candidates were in the fray. One candidate from the BJP was already elected unopposed. Besides Corporators, the 254-member BBMP Council includes 56 other members from Bengaluru with voting rights – 28 MLAs, 15 MLCs, five Lok Sabha and eight Rajya Sabha members.
During the 2010 BBMP polls, BJP which then was ruling the state had won in 111 <g data-gr-id="24">wards</g>, Congress in 65 <g data-gr-id="25">wards</g>, JD(S) in 15 and others 17.
BJP slams Cong over ‘negative’ politics
Riding high over its hat-trick of wins in a series of civic polls in Bengaluru, MP and Rajasthan, the BJP on Tuesday hit out at Congress saying that people’s mandate was against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi’s “anti-poor, anti-development and negative” politics. Top party leaders expressed their happiness over the series of wins. “People’s continuous faith in BJP is humbling and gladdening. We are fully committed to fulfilling aspirations of 125 crore Indians. After MP and Rajasthan, BBMP poll results complete a hat-trick of wins for BJP. This is a win for politics of development and good governance,” the PM tweeted.
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