‘Despite best efforts by all, including PM Modi, BJP not up to the mark’: Bommai concedes defeat

“In spite of a lot of efforts put in by the Prime Minister and the BJP workers, we have not been able to make the mark. Once the full results come, we will do a detailed analysis,” Bommai told reporters.

“As a national party, we will not only analyse, but also look at the deficiencies and gaps that were left at various levels. We take this result in our stride to come back in the Lok Sabha elections,” he added.

Most exit polls had indicated a BJP loss in Karnataka. Currently, leading in 66 seats, the BJP’s number falls well short of its 2018 performance when it won 104 seats. With this loss, BJP is set to lose control of the lone southern state under its rule. Since 1985, Karnataka has voted against the incumbent government every single time. With the exception of 2004 and 2018, where Congress managed to form the government (albeit only for a year) with the help of a coalition with the JD(S), no party has been a part of the Karnataka government for two consecutive terms.

As the party fell behind quite early on during counting, some BJP leaders talked of “utter confusion in the leadership as well as rank and file” about ticket distribution, who would lead the campaigning, and the issues it had to focus on. The party initially insisted that its campaign would be on the development agenda and the report card it placed before voters. But the party gradually shifted to its Hindutva plank, especially after the Congress talked about Bajrang Dal in its manifesto.  “It was clear to the party that the Hindutva plank would not work in Karnataka.  But we started losing the plot,” said a state BJP leader.

While a victory in Karnataka was a make-or-break situation for the Congress — battling a rapid dwindling of its support base and the exodus of leaders — to remain a formidable force on the national scene, for the BJP losing Karnataka will be a major embarrassment as it has been the party’s gateway to the south and the only state where it could come power in the region.

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