South India Now 'BJP-Mukt' As Congress Makes A Comeback: Understanding Karnataka Results In 10 Points

As the grand old party returned to the southern state of Karnataka, here are ten points that illustrate what Congress' massive victory means in the country's political sphere.

At the Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati, Congress leaders and supporters celebrate the party's strong showing in the Karnataka Assembly elections. (Representational Image)

Source : PTI

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost its only stronghold in the south today (May 13), with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai conceding defeat as Congress looks set to get a majority and form the government. Making corruption a central campaign theme and promise of free rice, power, and employment dole are among the factors that likely contributed to the Congress's good performance.

 Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar has been a talking point since switching from the BJP to the Congress in the run-up to the elections. Shettar, a prominent Lingayat leader, was defeated by the BJP's Mahesh Tenginakai in the Hubli-Dharwad Central assembly segment by nearly 30,000 votes.

HERE ARE HIGHLIGHTS FROM KARNATAKA ELECTION RESULTS: 

1. Best Performance Since 1989: The grand old party's recent victory is said to be Karnataka's best performance since 1989 when the Congress won 178 seats.
2. 'BJP-Mukt' South India: With this historic victory, the Congress has rendered South India 'BJP-Free' (the BJP no longer has a chief minister in any southern state).
3. Victory in Kharge's Home State: This victory also means victory in Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge's home state, providing the party with a significant moral victory.
4. No Party Retained Power Since 1985: Despite a high-pitch campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a battery of Union ministers and Chief Ministers, Karnataka has remained true to its nearly 40-year tradition of voting out the incumbent. PM Modi has participated in 19 public meetings and six roadshows.
5. Congress Makes Way Back In South: Asserting that "winds of change" are blowing in Karnataka, senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily claimed on Sunday that his party will win at least 130 seats in the upcoming assembly elections and that the BJP's gateway to South India will be "completely closed".
6. BJP's Defeat In B L Santosh's Home State: The BJP was defeated in B L Santosh's home state after losing in Himachal, the home state of BJP National President JP Nadda.
7. Worst Performance By JDS Since 1999: The JDS' performance in this Assembly elections is being considered the worst performance since 1999 (only 10 seats won in 1999). The party has secured 20 seats this year.  
8. Ex-CM Jagadish Shettar Loses: Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar lost badly after switching from the BJP to Congress due to a lack of a ticket. Shettar joined the Congress last month after the BJP denied him a ticket to run in Hubli-Dharwad Central. The veteran politician had previously stated that he left the BJP due to "ill-treatment".
9. Defeat Of HD Kumaraswamy's Son: Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the son of former JDS CM HD Kumaraswamy, lost the assembly elections following the Lok Sabha elections.
10. Congress Morale Boost: The victory in Karnataka strengthens Congress' claim to be the largest opposition party in 2024. The Karnataka results are expected to boost the Congress ahead of the general elections next year as well as the assembly elections in three states later this year. The party hopes to resurface in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. It also hopes to reclaim Madhya Pradesh, where its government collapsed in 2020 after Jyotiraditya Scindia and his loyalists defected.