Did Siddaramaiah’s statement of no tie-up with JDS cost Congress the Karnataka bypolls?

Just days before polls, Siddaramaiah h said that post results, BS Yediyurappa will have to step down as Chief Minister of Karnataka. n, reporters promptly asked him wher Congress will join hands with JDS to form government. To this, he said that it was t possible at any cost. This, even as several leers of his party h forthrightly said that y are t averse to reconsidering alliance with JDS to ensure state does t have to once again face elections.

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Conflict within Congress on supporting JDS

Several senior leers from Congress, like Mallikarjun Kharge, G Parameshwara, and Veerappa Moily, have alrey expressed ir erness towards allying with JDS. Veerappa Moily also ded that if ruling BJP fails to secure at least eight seats, current government will crumble and in order to avoid fresh elections in state, coalition 2.0 would be in everyone’s interest. This open conflict within senior leers of Congress party over future course of action caused voters to ask mselves a crucial question. While Congress was alrey facing an uphill task, this ambiguity pushed voters even closer to ‘stability’ pitch by BJP.  voters seem to have wanted to avoid burden of state having to face elections again if BJP did t win required number of 6 seats.  

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Opposition campaign lost steam

If history is any indication, bypolls in Karnataka have often swung in direction of those in power. ditional vant of snatching opposition parties’ strongest candidates for each of those constituencies worked in BJP’s favour. Congress which began campaign with much gusto lost steam very soon, with ir infighting taking over. Except for Siddaramaiah, or leers did t fight with ir full might.

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Rebel legislators win with huge margins

But uncertainty of t kwing if ir votes will bring a stable government or will usher in ar election in state caused voters to consolidate in favour of previously disqualified MLAs, most of whom won with large margins on Monday. negative campaign against rebel legislators and BJP accusing m of betrayal did t give eir assurance or hope to voters who h seen thing but political volatility for over 20 months. Siddaramaiah’s statement just hours before crucial polling gave mess that voting for opposition parties is a futile exercise.

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