The Congress has returned to power in Karnataka after seven years winning absolute majority in the Assembly polls. Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar of the BJP-led Government has submitted resignation letter to the Governor this evening.
Right from the beginning of the counting this morning, Congress was ahead in most of the constituencies and finished winning 121 seats out of 223 constituencies which went to the polls on 5th of this month. It almost swept BJP stronghold Dakshin Kannada and made in roads in other areas as well.
Election in one constituency – Periyapatna was deferred to 28th May due to the death of BJP Candidate.
In the final tally, BJP and JD(S) both ended with winning 40 seats each. BJP's bete noire Yeddyurappa's Karnataka Janatha Paksha Party, KJP won 6 and others including Independents got 16 seats.
BJP suffered heavy reverses losing Deputy Chief Minister Eshwarappa and 11 other Ministers including S.A.Ramadas, V.Somanna, B.N.Bache Gowda, A. Narayanasamy and Murgesh Mirani in the hustings.
Congress too had reverses when KPCC President, Dr. G. Parameshwara and former Union Minister C.M.Ibrahim losing the polls. JD(S) President Kumaraswamy had a mixed fortune when he won the Ramanagar seat while his wife Anita Kumaraswamy lost Channapatna constituency. However, his brother H.D.Revanna coasted to victory in Holenarasipura of Hasan district. Former Chief Minister S. Bangarapp's two sons crossed swords in Soraba constituency with Madhu Bangarappa, JDS winning the seat defeating his brother Kumar Bangarappa of Congress. Karnataka Makkal Paksha candidate Ashok Kheny won from Bidar South defeating sitting JD(S) MLA Bandeppa Kashempur by a margin of 3000 votes.
Other prominent winners in the Assembly elections are Congress leader Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar of BJP, KJP leader Yeddyurappa, former Union Minister and Kannada Cine Star, M.H.Ambareesh of Congress, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP candidate, R. Ashoka, BSR Congress Party Chief and former Minister, B. Sriramulu, Congress candidate Dr. Ajay Dharam Singh, son of former Chief Minister Dharam Singh, Priyanka M. Kharge son of Union Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge of Congress and former Union Minister V.Srinivasa Prasad of Congress. Sitting JD(S) MP N. Chaluvaraya Swamy has also won. Prominent losers of the KJP are Shoba Kharand Laje and Renukaacharya.
