Congress analysis: Narendra Modi wave did us in

Bengaluru: Despite its dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party in the state is not throwing in the towel just yet and has decided to continue backing the coalition government and leave it to the BJP to try and destabilise it.

This way, the party believes, it could accuse the BJP of using its Operation Lotus to poach its MLAs and bring down the government, which could damage its image and help the Congress improve its own, according to party sources.

The Congress leaders, who are clearly stunned by the party's tally of only one Lok Sabha seat from Bengaluru Rural constituency these polls, discussed the debacle at a breakfast meeting held at deputy chief minister, Dr G. Parameshwar's home on Friday. Interestingly, while such meetings took place at former Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah's home in the past, a day after the party's rout in the Parliamentary elections, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader came to Dr Parameshwara's home for the brainstorming.

Admitting that the Modi wave had cost the party heavily, the ministers and others present reportedly felt the JD (S) should not have got so many seats, including Uttara Kannada and Vijayapura these polls.

The two ministers from Ballari, P.T. Parameshwara Naik and E. Thukaram entered into an argument over the party losing from the constituency, which it had won merely five months ago in a bypoll. Mr Siddaramaiah is said to have ticked both men off for their bickering.

Meanwhile, other leaders present at the breakfast meet blamed senior leader, M. Veerappa Moily for committing "too many mistakes" in Chikkaballapur, which he lost. The ministers felt both the JD(S) and Congress workers deserted Mr K.H. Muniyappa in Kolar leading to his defeat, according to sources.