The ruling BJP in Karnataka on Tuesday gained an absolute majority for its government sweeping the bypolls, winning six of the eight seats and decimating the principal opposition, the Congress.The strength of the BJP rose to 116 in the 224-member house and its effective numerical numbers 122 in the wake of its government headed by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa enjoying the backing of six independents.Besides four ministers - Balachandra Jarakiholi (Arabhavi), Umesh Katti (Hukkeri), K Shivanagowda Naik (Devadurga) and Anand Asnotikar (Karwar) - J Narasimha Swamy won in Doddaballapur and M D Lakshminarayana in Turuvekere.The campaign mounted by Congress and JDS to the electorate that went to the polls on December 27 to punish "defectors", came to nought with voters supporting the saffron party slogan of "stability".The JDS, which had lost four of its MLAs to BJP and the Maddur seat following the death of its member M S Siddaraju had some solace as it is set to retain two seats – Madhugiri and Maddur - where its candidates have established sizeable leads.The Congress, whose three MLAs were poached by BJP, suffered a major dent to its image as it scored a blank in the bypoll."We will accept the verdict of people" said KPCC Working President D K Shivakumar."It is not a vote for development. BJP will have to pay a price for defections one day," JDS spokesman Y S V Datta said while reacting to the saffron party's continued surge in the state.
