Image Credits - Business Today
The Congress party in Karnataka appears set to stage a strong comeback, making significant gains as per the initial trends that emerged from the counting of votes for the 28 Lok Sabha seats across the state on Tuesday.
As the counting progressed, the Congress established an early lead in 8 constituencies, a remarkable improvement from its dismal performance in the 2019 polls when it managed to win just a single seat.
On the other hand, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had swept the state in the previous general elections by bagging 25 out of the 28 seats, saw its tally dwindle with the party currently ahead in only 17 constituencies.
The Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S), the regional party headed by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, has put up a strong show as well, leading in 3 seats – Mandya, Hassan, and Kolar. The party had won just one seat in 2019.
These trends mark a significant shift in the state’s political landscape, where the Congress had joined forces with the JD(S) to form a coalition government after the 2018 assembly polls, only to see that alliance unravel in 2019.
The JD(S) subsequently parted ways with the Congress and allied with the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a move that appears to have paid dividends so far.
As the counting progresses, all eyes are on the final tally that will determine the eventual winners and the extent of gains or losses for each party.
Political pundits are already attributing the Congress’ resurgence to a range of factors, including public disenchantment with the incumbent BJP’s governance, the party’s campaign strategy, and the leadership’s ability to galvanize its traditional vote bank.
Irrespective of the outcome, the trends so far have undoubtedly injected a new dynamic into Karnataka’s political arena, setting the stage for fascinating battles in future elections.
With several rounds of counting remaining, the picture is expected to become clearer in the coming hours, offering greater insights into the mandate delivered by the state’s electorate.