Jan Ki Baat predicts Karnataka bypolls; 'Victory of Stability,' says Pradeep Bhandari

With BJP dominating Karnataka by-election by winning 12 seats out of 15, Jan Ki Baat exit poll has once again mand to predict  election result precisely. While speaking to Republic Media Network, Jan Ki Baat founder and psephologist Pradeep Bhandari called it a “victory of stability” and a great opportunity for BJP to increase its foothold in Karnataka as BJP has won in constituencies where it had never won before such as Mysuru-Mandya region and Chikkaballapur.

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Republic-Jan Ki Baat poll had also predicted 2018 assembly elections of Karnataka down to a T, with BJP winning 104 seats. Describing nature of this by-election, Pradeep Bhandari said, “This election was a test wher people would be voting for stability, or will y be voting against candidates who defected considering m immoral and unethical. However, people have shown that stability in Karnataka is more important.”

“Congress and JD(S) have been historically n-aligned parties fighting against each or. However, in 2018, y forged an alliance to stop BJP from coming to power and formed a coalition government with Kumaraswamy of JD(S) as Chief Minister. However, due to disputes between workers of two parties and ideological difference between Congress and JD(S),  coalition did t last long,” added Bhandari.

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Backdrop of 2018

Giving a backdrop of 2018 assembly election, Pradeep Bhandari opined that votes garnered by Congress and JD(S) in 2018 election were t due to ir respective parties’ names, but due to  vote bank of  candidates; but formation of Cong-JD(S) alliance was a compromise for most of candidates who have been fighting against each or, hence y defected to BJP. “With concept of principle of stability overplaying in voters’ mind, y did t treat defection as immoral or unethical,” he said. 

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Growing foothold of BJP in Karnataka

Explaining importance of seats won by BJP in this by-poll and how it can help BJP grow its foothold in state, Pradeep Bhandari said, “BJP has won in Chikkaballapur after Congress candidate shifted to BJP. Winning Chikkaballapur is like BJP winning crucial seats in West Bengal for first time in 2019.” Earlier BJP had presence only in rth Karnataka but w with this by-election, it has ability to grow in entire Karnataka in three to four years, opined Bhandari.

15 assemblies in Karnataka went to polls on December 5, with  vote counting and result anunced on Monday. Prior to election result, Congress had hinted a post-poll alliance with JD(S) however, alliance doesn’t seem to be necessary as BJP has won with a clear majority. BJP needed a minimum of six seats to stay afloat in Karnataka but has won 12.

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