Karnataka, 11th march: The Urban Local Bodies polls in Karnataka, Congress got a big win on Monday leaving ruling BJP way behind as counting of votes cast on Thursday got underway in the state.
With results in around 4,500 wards of a total of nearly 5000 announced this afternoon, the Congress, clearly benefiting from multi-cornered contests, bagged more than 1,800 wards, while JDS of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda came second with some 870. The ruling BJP finished third with 800-plus wards in it kitty.
The Congress has already won Bellary, Mangalore and Davanagere city corporations while it is way ahead in Gulbarga. The party is leading in four out of seven city corporations and is also doing very well in Dakshin Kannada.
The ruling BJP is ahead in Hubli-Dharwad while there is close fight between Congress and JDS in Mysore. Yeddyurappa’s Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) has put up a dismal performance in Shimoga while the BJP has suffered a huge defeat in its stronghold of coastal Karnataka where the Independents have come third.
The initial results show that urban voters have totally rejected BJP and its offshoots KJP and BSR Congress.
The Bellary brothers, who had launched the BSR Congress, have suffered humiliation in their stronghold.
The BJP, which has been hit by mass defections to the Congress and KJP, needs to win 30-40 percent of the seats in order to retain power.
Even the JDS is hoping for gains to increases their bargaining power in the upcoming Assembly polls.
Balloting took place on Thursday for over 4,800 seats to run 207 urban local bodies.
Former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa’s KJP was struggling, with around 200 seats, while BSR Congress could emerge victorious in 47.
Bureau Report
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