Opposition Congress has outperformed the ruling BJP in the polls held for 58 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) by winning 501 of a total 1,184 wards that went for polls. BJP managed to win in 433 and JD(S) in 45 and independents remaining 205 seats.
The BJP suffered a major setback the Legislative Council election, it also has got jolt in the ULBs election, however, the results are being seen as a warning bell for the BJP ahead of the 2023 assembly polls, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said BJP will be in power in the state till 2028. The state has to go general polls in 2023.
It is being viewed as a personal setback Bommai, the Congress managed to retain Bankapur town municipal council and Guttal town panchayat, in his home constituency of Shiggav
BJP has also lost urban local bodies in the home turf of a couple of Ministers like B Sriramulu’s Nayakanahatti town panchayat.
Congress, which is expected to take control of over two dozen ULBs, is seeing the results as an indication of the things to come during the 2023 general election elections.
Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah said the results are the reflection of the BJP’s “hopeless governance”.
Though the BJP has managed to win more seats than the Congress in the five city municipal councils that went for polls, the latter has gained upper hand in town municipal councils and town panchayats.
Noting that the BJP’s performance has improved compared to the last time and it could have been better, Bommai said, “If you observe, as these places have concentration of minority community voters, we have not been getting good results, but this time due to efforts, in places like Gadag and other, we have got success.”
On BJP’s defeat in his constituency, he said, “we had never won there (in Bankapur), minority voters are 65 per cent, it won’t be right for me to say more. Same is the case with Guttal…. we will continue with our development work there also.”
Bommai hit back at Congress stating that they are dreaming about coming to power after assembly polls. “Their dream will continue to remain a dream. BJP will complete the term and will continue to remain in power for five years after 2023, till 2028.
