BJP Retains Bengaluru, Setback for Congress
The BJP, despite climbing down from its 2010 tally of 116 wards, hangs on to power with its tally of 100. The Congress, which was hoping to topple the BJP will have to be satisfied with 75 wards.
What does this mean for Bengaluru? Are the results a referendum on the performance of the state Congress government?
Stay tuned for all the analysis.
Here’s Why the BJP’s Win is Not Yet Outright Victory
The BJP has won out 100 out of 197 wards in Bengaluru. It has won more than half the wards that were up for voting. But that isn’t quite ‘Game, Set and Match’ yet for the party.
Here’s why.
The BBMP council is made up of more than just the 197 corporators who have won. MPs, MLAs and MLCs from Karnataka too have representation in the body. That’s why the golden number for a majority in Bangalore is set at 103.
Still, with the 100 wards the BJP is easily is the single largest party. It will rule the BBMP, as it has done for the past five years. It’s a setback for the Congress party, which had hoped to topple the BJP.
BJP Set to Rule Bengaluru
The latest leads show that the BJP has got 100 out of 197 seats. That gives the party a simple majority.
Still short of 100 - Hung BBMP?
The BJP’s within kissing distance of getting a simple majority, but will it? If the party doesn’t manage the numbers, there will be no one with a majority. Here’s where Bengaluru’s and Karnataka’s kingmakers, the JD(S) comes into the picture.
The BJP and JD(S) were once allies in the Karnataka government so there’s precedent, even if that alliance ended badly.
What happened to Loksatta Party?
You could say that the Loksatta Party (LSP) was India’s Aam Aadmi Party before the Aam Aadmi Party was even founded. LSP contested the Bengaluru elections and some of their candidates were even endorsed by BPAC - yet they haven’t won a seat. (The AAP for their part did not contest the BBMP polls.)
Now what sort of conclusion will you draw from that?