05-27-2008, 02:24 AM
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Coastal Karnataka ditches the BJP
Govind D. Belgaumkar
The partyâs tally for the region has come down to 10 seats
MANGALORE: The formation of the new government could have been a cakewalk for the Bharatiya Janata Party if it had maintained its strong presence in coastal Karnataka. Once known as the BJPâs bastion, it is the only region in the State where the party has lost significantly.
The picture in coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada is rather dismal. From its impressive performance in 2004, when it won 15 of 21 seats, the partyâs tally for the region has come down to 10 out of 19 seats. Two constituencies were done away with in the delimitation exercise.
Loss
The party could have boasted of a comfortable majority it if had retained its position in the region. Though the BJP maintained its position in Udupi, where it won four of the five seats, the party lost two seats each in Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada. Another loss came in the form of disappearance of Vittila constituency in Dakshina Kannada in the delimitation exercise. The BJP had won the constituency in 2004.
In Ankola, the partyâs candidate Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri had won thrice there. But it, too, was done away with in Uttara Kannada. Mr. Kageri has now won from Sirsi.
In the district, the party has lost Bhatkal and Karwar to the Congress, which in turn lost Haliyal and Kumta to the Janata Dal (Secular) The JD(S) candidate Sunil V. Hegde upset R.V. Deshpande of the Congress in Haliyal. Mr. Deshpande had reportedly described himself as a Chief Ministerial candidate.
In Dakshina Kannada, the home district of the BJPâs Sate unit president D.V. Sadananda Gowda, the party lost Belthangady and Bantwal constituencies, both bagged by the Congress.
In the coastal region, the partyâs share came down by about 5 per cent. In 2004, the BJP had gained 43.77 per cent of the 21.55 lakhs votes polled. But in the latest election, the partyâs share of votes is down to 38.84 per cent.
Consolidation
The Congress, on the other hand, consolidated its position in the region by polling 39.33 per cent of the votes as against 38.64 per cent in 2004.
The Janata Dal (S), too, lost ground by more than three per cent in the region. The party did not have an MLA from this region in the previous Assembly.
The BJP has lost in absolute numbers also. While the party had 9.43 lakh voters supporting it in 2004, it now has only 9 lakh voters supporting it, though 2.34 lakh more men and women exercised their franchise this time. That figure goes up substantially if you account for the number of votes the party should have bagged if it were to maintain its share of 43.77 per cent.
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Road clear for BJP to work at government formation
S. Rajendran
Weâve nothing to do with independents: Kharge
We are ready to sit in Opposition: Kumaraswamy
Bangalore: The BJP is not expected to face any problems in government formation and thereafter during the floor test with the Congress and the JD(S) giving up the idea to hold on to at least a few of the six independents, who have emerged as the key players.
Of the six independents, four of them contested as Congress rebels after they were denied the party ticket. While a section of the Congressmen here on Sunday reportedly established a line of communication with these rebels and sought their support, the effort was given up subsequently following directions from the party high command.
Speaking to The Hindu, president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee M. Mallikarjun Kharge said: âWe have nothing to do with them (the independents). It is left to their conscience. They have been given the mandate as they fought the elections on secular ideology. If they want to cross over and extend support to a communal party, it is their choice and they are answerable to their constituents. They are not part of our party, and so we have no control over them. We also do not believe in horse-trading and offering inducements.â
Both the Congress and the JD(S) have reportedly decided to accept the defeat with grace rather than get together once again to merely keep the BJP out. While top Congress leaders have reportedly told the State leadership to refrain from attempting to win over the party rebels who contested as independents, the JD(S) reportedly told the Congress that it would extend support to it and that it was for the Congress to decide on what should be done next.
The former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, who is reportedly in touch with some Congress leaders, said: âWe are a small regional party and have won only 28 seats. It is for the Congress to take a decision. The BJP is attempting to break our legislature party by getting in touch with some our MLAs. We will thwart such attempts. We have accepted the verdict of the people and will sit in the Opposition.â
While the Congress has called for a meeting of the legislature party on Wednesday, a meeting of the JD(S) Legislature Party has been called on Tuesday.
Mr. Kumaraswamy would be elected the leader of the JD(S) Legislature Party while in the case of the Congress, there are more than two contenders.
Coastal Karnataka ditches the BJP
Govind D. Belgaumkar
The partyâs tally for the region has come down to 10 seats
MANGALORE: The formation of the new government could have been a cakewalk for the Bharatiya Janata Party if it had maintained its strong presence in coastal Karnataka. Once known as the BJPâs bastion, it is the only region in the State where the party has lost significantly.
The picture in coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada is rather dismal. From its impressive performance in 2004, when it won 15 of 21 seats, the partyâs tally for the region has come down to 10 out of 19 seats. Two constituencies were done away with in the delimitation exercise.
Loss
The party could have boasted of a comfortable majority it if had retained its position in the region. Though the BJP maintained its position in Udupi, where it won four of the five seats, the party lost two seats each in Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada. Another loss came in the form of disappearance of Vittila constituency in Dakshina Kannada in the delimitation exercise. The BJP had won the constituency in 2004.
In Ankola, the partyâs candidate Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri had won thrice there. But it, too, was done away with in Uttara Kannada. Mr. Kageri has now won from Sirsi.
In the district, the party has lost Bhatkal and Karwar to the Congress, which in turn lost Haliyal and Kumta to the Janata Dal (Secular) The JD(S) candidate Sunil V. Hegde upset R.V. Deshpande of the Congress in Haliyal. Mr. Deshpande had reportedly described himself as a Chief Ministerial candidate.
In Dakshina Kannada, the home district of the BJPâs Sate unit president D.V. Sadananda Gowda, the party lost Belthangady and Bantwal constituencies, both bagged by the Congress.
In the coastal region, the partyâs share came down by about 5 per cent. In 2004, the BJP had gained 43.77 per cent of the 21.55 lakhs votes polled. But in the latest election, the partyâs share of votes is down to 38.84 per cent.
Consolidation
The Congress, on the other hand, consolidated its position in the region by polling 39.33 per cent of the votes as against 38.64 per cent in 2004.
The Janata Dal (S), too, lost ground by more than three per cent in the region. The party did not have an MLA from this region in the previous Assembly.
The BJP has lost in absolute numbers also. While the party had 9.43 lakh voters supporting it in 2004, it now has only 9 lakh voters supporting it, though 2.34 lakh more men and women exercised their franchise this time. That figure goes up substantially if you account for the number of votes the party should have bagged if it were to maintain its share of 43.77 per cent.
Send this Article to a Friend
Road clear for BJP to work at government formation
S. Rajendran
Weâve nothing to do with independents: Kharge
We are ready to sit in Opposition: Kumaraswamy
Bangalore: The BJP is not expected to face any problems in government formation and thereafter during the floor test with the Congress and the JD(S) giving up the idea to hold on to at least a few of the six independents, who have emerged as the key players.
Of the six independents, four of them contested as Congress rebels after they were denied the party ticket. While a section of the Congressmen here on Sunday reportedly established a line of communication with these rebels and sought their support, the effort was given up subsequently following directions from the party high command.
Speaking to The Hindu, president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee M. Mallikarjun Kharge said: âWe have nothing to do with them (the independents). It is left to their conscience. They have been given the mandate as they fought the elections on secular ideology. If they want to cross over and extend support to a communal party, it is their choice and they are answerable to their constituents. They are not part of our party, and so we have no control over them. We also do not believe in horse-trading and offering inducements.â
Both the Congress and the JD(S) have reportedly decided to accept the defeat with grace rather than get together once again to merely keep the BJP out. While top Congress leaders have reportedly told the State leadership to refrain from attempting to win over the party rebels who contested as independents, the JD(S) reportedly told the Congress that it would extend support to it and that it was for the Congress to decide on what should be done next.
The former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, who is reportedly in touch with some Congress leaders, said: âWe are a small regional party and have won only 28 seats. It is for the Congress to take a decision. The BJP is attempting to break our legislature party by getting in touch with some our MLAs. We will thwart such attempts. We have accepted the verdict of the people and will sit in the Opposition.â
While the Congress has called for a meeting of the legislature party on Wednesday, a meeting of the JD(S) Legislature Party has been called on Tuesday.
Mr. Kumaraswamy would be elected the leader of the JD(S) Legislature Party while in the case of the Congress, there are more than two contenders.