Karnataka: BJP to go into huddle on January 4 over debacle

Bengaluru: Embarrassed over its dismal performance in the Legislative Council polls and the fact that rebel BJP candidate and former Union minister Basavangowda Patil Yatnal swept to victory in Vijayapura-Bagalkote, the party state leadership has called for a meeting on January 4 to introspect on the loss.

The leadership has informed its district presidents, district general secretaries and state office bearers to attend the day-long meeting to conduct a post-mortem of the Council results. “We expected nine seats and were sure of winning Vijayapura-Bagalkote. We are surprised with the results. As per early reports from the cadre in the twin districts, second rung leaders in Vijayapura did not work for the official candidate, G.S. Nyamegowda. After consulting district leaders, we will take corrective measures”, said a party office bearer.

“The poll results were not on expected lines, it was a total setback for the party in Mumbai-Karnataka. To win, our candidate in Belagavi had to depend on second preferential votes. We also received a jolt in our stronghold, Shivamogga”, the leader added.

At the meeting, the party is also likely to discuss its strategy for the coming Zilla and Taluk Panchayat polls, due in February 2016.