Congress trumps BJP and JD(S) across all regions, except coast

In what is perceived as a wave election, Congress has trumped its opponents Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) across all regions, except in Coastal Karnataka where BJP has been successful in holding on to its fort. 

In what is perceived as a wave election, Congress has trumped its opponents Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) across all regions, except in Coastal Karnataka where BJP has been successful in holding on to its fort. 

Congress has recovered lost electoral ground in Old Mysore region, at the cost of JD(S), which dominated the region in 2018. The results have delivered a blow to the JD(S), whose relevance in State politics is, to a large extent, tied to its electoral performance in the region. JD(S) had won 29 seats from Old Mysore region, drawing nearly 80% of its tally in the previous election. It is now down to 14 seats. Several prominent JD(S) leaders, including Nikhil Kumaraswamy, C.S. Puttaraju, D.C. Thammanna and H.K. Kumaraswamy, lost the polls. 

Congress, which had won only 19 seats in 2018, has won a whopping 37 seats in the region. Both the Chief Minister aspirants from the party Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar scripted big victories in the region. The results seem to suggest a significant transfer of Vokkaliga votes from JD(S) to Congress, and a consolidation of Muslim votes in favour of Congress, defying attempts by JD(S) to woo Muslims. 

BJP’s aggressive attempts to make inroads into the region may have not converted into an increase in its seat tally. V. Somanna who was contesting from two seats Varuna and Chamarajanagar, lost both. However, BJP’s vote share has increased in the region, which has led to the defeat of JD(S) in several seats, including Mandya. 

Congress has scripted an upset defeat for BJP in Malnad region, dominated by BJP for many successive elections now.

Meanwhile, BJP has been able to retain its tally of 15 in Bengaluru, whereas Congress has improved its tally by one. 

The region from where AICC president M. Mallikarjun Kharge hails and considered to be the stronghold of Congress, has expectedly given a majority to Congress. Congress has won 26 out of 41 seats this time, reducing BJP to 10 seats, JD(S) to 2 and two seats have gone to others. Though Congress had won 21 seats in 2018, post Operation Kamala and byelections, it was down to 18 seats and BJP’s tally stood at 19. Congress has won 8 more seats this election.