The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka reaffirmed its supremacy over Bangalore city by winning the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections with a clear majority. It won 112 of the 198 wards while the Opposition Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) could manage only 64 and 15 wards respectively. The winners include seven independents.
Another milestone
The BJP reached another electoral milestone as it will hold the reins of administration in the Bangalore civic body for the first time, although amidst plain voter apathy reflected in the under-45 per cent turnout on polling day. This is the third major electoral victory for the party in recent times. In the city alone, it had won 17 of the 28 city Assembly constituencies and all three Lok Sabha seats.
In fact, the BJP's numerical strength far exceeds what it requires to win the mayor's and deputy mayor's posts as it also has the highest number of legislators and MPs from Bangalore who are allowed to vote in elections for these posts. Over and above the 198 corporators, 52 legislators and MPs from Bangalore comprise the electoral college for the mayoral elections. In addition to its 112 elected corporators, the BJP has a total of 30 legislators and MPs from the city.
The civic polls, being held for the first time after the formation of the BBMP, had become a high-stakes political battle. The perceived reluctance of the BJP to hold early elections was used by the Opposition to accuse the government of developing cold feet over the electoral challenge. To dispel criticism against the abysmal infrastructure in the city, the government announced projects to the tune of some Rs.1,300 crore. In the run-up to the election, it even lifted load shedding.
