BBMP polls: Congress failed to cash in on city anger

BENGALURU: Right from the minute counting began at 8 am, the saffron flag was soaring above all the other parties, with the Congress activists in the counting centres stunned and silent, as was the JD(S), unlike the day of voting when the Congress workers were much more visible.

In a record victory, the BJP’s second consecutive win in the city, the incumbents won 100 seats, albeit 12 less than their 112 seats in the maiden BBMP polls held in 2010.

Political scientist Sandeep Shastry says that the main reason for the inability of the Congress to cash in on the city’s anger was the Congress’ war within, unlike like the united BJP which cleverly stayed well away from any sloganeering on their incredibly poor run as administrators of the civic body and focused instead on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The BJP focused on the party’s rule at the Centre and rode the waning Narendra Modi image, but steered clear of their previous rule at the BBMP and contribution to the city. It was a clever ploy by them to avoid anti-incumbency. But the saffron party too has to do some soul searching as it has lost 12 seats from its previous tally,” Mr Shastry said.