Promises and sops: Political parties woo economically sound Karnataka

State does well in many economic parameters, but freebies promised by parties may spoil its finances

Karnataka did well economically under two parties, Janata Dal (Secular) and Bharatiya Janata Party, in the last five years. The state has had four chief ministers, three of the BJP and one of the JD (S), after elections in May 2018. BJP’s B S Yediyurappa ruled for only six days and he was reinstated again after his successor, JD (S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, lasted for over 14 months in power. Yediyurappa resigned on July 28, 2021 and since then Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP has been CM.

Karnataka's economy, in the recent past, has grown a bit higher than