BJP wins Karnataka assembly polls
The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has won assembly
elections in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.
The party is three seats short of an overall majority, but well ahead
of the Congress, which leads the national coalition government.
The victory is significant as for the first time, the party will be
heading a government of its own in the south.
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Activists of India's main opposition party, Bharatiya Janata
Party carry S. R. Vishwanath, center, a legislator as they
celebrate his victory in the state assembly elections in
Bangalore, India, Sunday, May 25, 2008. BJP emerged as the
single largest party in India's southern state of Karnataka
winning 110 seats, falling three short of a simple majority,
expressed confidence of cobbling up the required numbers
from independent candidates. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) |
Karnataka is politically important and its capital, Bangalore, is the
hub of India's booming IT industry.
Voting was held in three phases on 10, 16 and 22 May.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed a government in November last
year, led by chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, together with its coalition
ally Janata Dal (Secular) party.
The government collapsed a week later after the alliance partner
decided to oppose Mr Yeddyurappa in a confidence vote.
'Confident'
After results were announced, Mr Yeddyurappa said that as the largest
single party, the BJP should be allowed to lead a government and would
be supported by other groups.
"We are confident of [forming] the government, there is no doubt
about it," he said.
Senior BJP leader, Arun Jaitley, speaking in Delhi, expressed
satisfaction over the results, which he said were expected.
"The meeting of the newly elected (party legislators) would be held
on Monday in Bangalore, where Mr Yeddyurappa will be formally elected as
the leader of the BJP's legislators party," he said.
The last assembly elections were held in Karnataka in 2004.
No party gained a majority in the 224-member state assembly.
The BJP was the largest party with 79 seats, but Congress with its 64
members aligned with 58 Janata Dal (S) members to form the government.
The government lasted for 20 months before the two split.
In February 2006, the Janata Dal (S) and BJP formed a coalition
government.
The two parties agreed that each would have the chief minister's post
for 20 months.
The state assembly was suspended on October 2007 and federal rule
imposed after the Janata Dal (S) refused to give up the chief minister's
chair in favour of the BJP candidate.
A month later the two parties formed a government with BJP heading
the coalition.
A week later the coalition fell apart with the two parties failing to
come to an agreement over power sharing and fresh elections were called.
- BBC
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