BJP wins Karnataka, says southern march on

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New Delhi: The BJP’s dream of ruling a southern state was fulfilled on Sunday when it won 110 seats in the 224-seat Karnataka Assembly.

The Congress won 80 seats, the JD(S) 28 seats and others won six seats.

The BJP will meet Governor Rameshwar Thakur on Monday to stake claim to form the government. The BJP, which lost the 2004 General Elections and then the crucial UP elections in 2007, believes the victory in Karnataka marks its resurgence.

BJP chief Rajnath Singh said the party’s victory in Karnataka was a milestone in its social and geographical expansion and made it the front-runner in the next Lok Sabha elections.

"The natural conclusion after the Karnataka victory is that not only has our public mandate increased, the party has registered a social as well as geographical expansion," he said.

"The BJP had so far been seen as a North Indian party. Now, we can say that the BJP is an all-India party," Singh added.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said the victory in Karnataka would have “national implications”.

“This is a breakthrough for BJP. This will be our gateway to the south and will have national implications. It should not be treated as a local victory as this is something that will help keep the party flock together and improve our performance for the upcoming state and general elections,” said Naidu.

B S Yeddyurappa, the BJP’s chief minister-designate, said, "We have not won a clear majority but the verdict is for a BJP government."

Congress accepts defeat

Former chief minister S M Krishna, who resigned as Maharashtra governor to lead the Congress’ campaign in the state, took moral responsibility for the defeat.

"I am sure that the BJP will get a workable majority and the Congress would act as a responsible Opposition,” he told CNN-IBN.

Congress leader in charge of Karnataka Prithviraj Chavan said his party was defeated because secular votes were divided between it and the JD(S). The Congress had won 65 seats in the last elections.

The JD(S) was the biggest loser as its hopes of being a kingmaker again like in 2004 were dashed. It is expected to win around 30 seats against 58 in 2004.

Congress leaders were talking of a tie-up with the JD(S) but its leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy ruled out any alliance with the Congress or the BJP.

The BSP and the SP will come a cropper in the state. The SP suffered a huge setback as its state chief and former Karnataka chief minister S Bangarappa lost to Yeddyurappa in Shikaripura in Shimoga district.

Among the prominent winners till now was Kumaraswamy, who defeated the Congress in Ramanagaram constituency.

Yeddyurappa and Congress leader and former CM N Dharam Singh (Congress) M Mallikarjun Kharge were among others who have comfortable leads over their respective rivals.

Former minister and Congress heavyweight R V Deshpande lost the Haliyal seat to JD(S) candidate Sunil Hegde.

POLLSPEAK
	"The verdict is against the Congress, decisively against the JD(S) and substantially in favour of the BJP" — BJP Spokesperson, Ravi Shankar Prasad
	"I am sure that BJP will get a workable majority and the Congress would act as a responsible Opposition" — Congress leader, S M Krishna
	"Based on the latest trends available we may be a little away from the magical figure" — BJP leader Arun Jaitley

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