The Congress and the Janata Dal Secular have together performed better in the local polls of Karnataka urban bodies than the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
This was somewhat of a test for the two parties since the coalition government was formed in the state this year. While the ruling parties contested the elections separately, the fact that their joint performance was better than the BJP’s is important because they have said they can join hands if required.
Of the 2,628 seats (the polling held in 29 city municipalities, 53 town municipalities, 23 town panchayats and 135 wards of three city corporations of the state), the Congress had won in 966. The BJP got 910 seats while the JDS won 373. The remaining seats went to Independents.
BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa has said that the party should have performed better. However, he was quick to add that this was no indication of what the party’s performance was going to be in the Lok Sabha polls.
The polling had taken place on August 31.
Meanwhile, eight persons were injured in an acid attack on the victory procession of winning Congress candidate Inayautullah Khan in Tumkur.
