 "Defeat in Karnataka civic body poll 'alarming': BJP")
The BJP on Monday accepted its defeat in the local bodies' elections in Karnataka is "alarming" and the party will introspect but claimed it will spring back in the coming Assembly elections.
Asked about the party's debacle in local bodies polls in the state, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said "we did not win in the local bodies elections. We have lost and this is alarming. We will definitely introspect about it."
The BJP MP recited a poem by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to say that the party remains unfazed in the face of defeat and will strive to gain victory. "In the assembly elections we will do well and we will win the elections," Hussain claimed.
This poll outcome is likely to make BJP think about its future plans as assembly elections in Karnataka are just a couple of months away. With senior party leader L K Advani having categorically expressed his opposition to Yeddyurappa and pulled up the party at its recent national conclave for not removing him promptly from the post of CM, BJP will find it difficult to forge and any pre or post-poll alliance with the KJP.
Not having any electoral understanding with Yeddyurappa's party is likely to see a repeat of the local bodies polls in the assembly elections as his candidates could cut into BJP votes and lead to the party's ouster from power, said a party leader.
Meanwhile, the infrastructure development and efforts to give a face lift to the twin cities of Dharwad and Hubli during the five years of BJP's regime at Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation could not be of much help to the party in translating the goodwill into votes.
Discontent among the BJP cadres did have its impact on the results of the election to HDMC. The BJP had to struggle to get 33 seats in a House of 67 while the Congress retained its tally of 22. The Janata Dal won nine seats while KJP could manage one seat. Two independents also go elected. The BJP had won 36 seats in the outgoing body while Congress and Janata Dal had 22 and nine seats respectively. The BJP has now to depend on support from Independents. One of them is a former BJP member.
The Karnataka Janata Party and BSR Congress failed to make an impact on the voters directly. However the split in BJP helped Congress candidates directly and resulted in some prominent BJP candidates losing the battle.
Asked about the party's debacle in local bodies polls in the state, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said "we did not win in the local bodies elections. We have lost and this is alarming. We will definitely introspect about it."
The BJP MP recited a poem by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to say that the party remains unfazed in the face of defeat and will strive to gain victory. "In the assembly elections we will do well and we will win the elections," Hussain claimed.
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Though the BJP put up a brave front, sources said, former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's decision to form his Karnataka Janata Party had affected the party's fortunes and led to its rout. BJP leaders claimed the results show that had Yeddyurappa not quit the party, it would have emerged triumphant in these polls.
This poll outcome is likely to make BJP think about its future plans as assembly elections in Karnataka are just a couple of months away. With senior party leader L K Advani having categorically expressed his opposition to Yeddyurappa and pulled up the party at its recent national conclave for not removing him promptly from the post of CM, BJP will find it difficult to forge and any pre or post-poll alliance with the KJP.
Not having any electoral understanding with Yeddyurappa's party is likely to see a repeat of the local bodies polls in the assembly elections as his candidates could cut into BJP votes and lead to the party's ouster from power, said a party leader.
Meanwhile, the infrastructure development and efforts to give a face lift to the twin cities of Dharwad and Hubli during the five years of BJP's regime at Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation could not be of much help to the party in translating the goodwill into votes.
Discontent among the BJP cadres did have its impact on the results of the election to HDMC. The BJP had to struggle to get 33 seats in a House of 67 while the Congress retained its tally of 22. The Janata Dal won nine seats while KJP could manage one seat. Two independents also go elected. The BJP had won 36 seats in the outgoing body while Congress and Janata Dal had 22 and nine seats respectively. The BJP has now to depend on support from Independents. One of them is a former BJP member.
The Karnataka Janata Party and BSR Congress failed to make an impact on the voters directly. However the split in BJP helped Congress candidates directly and resulted in some prominent BJP candidates losing the battle.