BJP wins BBMP polls, setback to ruling Congress in Karnataka

Bengaluru: The ruling Congress in Karnataka, the party lost the prestigious Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) polls to the BJP, which performed a hat trick by retaining the 198-member civic body for the third consecutive term.

The verdict implied that Bengalureans had voted against the Congress proposal to trifurcate the city, legislation which is now before the President for his assent. The anti-incumbency factor against the BJP’s five year rule where probes by the government unearthed funds scams was virtually neutralized by the larger image of chief minister Siddaramaiah not being an urban friendly leader.

The BJP hit a century by winning 100 of the 198 wards, Congress 76, JD(S) 14 and independents 8 in the counting of votes here on Tuesday. The BJP had opened its account prior to the polling day with Bharthi Ramachandra winning the Hongasandra ward in Bommanahalli assembly constituency unopposed as the Congress nominee’s nomination papers were rejected, with the JD(S) not contesting and two Independents withdrawing.