B Bommai To NDTV After Karnataka Loss

Karnataka’s outgoing Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who led the get together’s marketing campaign within the just lately concluded meeting elections, instructed NDTV right this moment that the Congress began its campaigning early and the BJP messaging went awry within the state.  

The BJP, which was ruling the state, received 66 of the 224 meeting seats. The Congress received 135 and HD Kumaraswamy’s Janata Dal Secular 19 seats.

Requested what have been the teachings drawn from the outcomes, Mr Bommai listed three causes for the Congress victory. The folks, he stated, have been “swayed by freebies”.  

Then, “Personally I really feel that the Congress was extra organised and began earlier, which in any other case BJP used to do… We took our choices a bit of late, acted late,” he instructed NDTV within the unique interview.  

Lastly, although the BJP authorities carried out numerous programmes, the “proper messaging didn’t go to the folks… (the federal government’s) main choices didn’t attain the folks,” he added.  

Mentioning that the BJP’s vote share didn’t change, he stated that the get together’s penetration into southern Karnataka, which is a stronghold of the JD(S), has additionally helped the Congress. “5 per cent of the JD(S) votes shifted to the Congress,” he stated.  

The BJP had maintained its 36 per cent vote share from 2018, however the Congress vote share went up from 38.1 per cent to 42.9 per cent. The JD(S) votes slid from 18.3 to 13.3 per cent.  

Wanting ahead, Mr Bommai stated it could take a number of months for the state of affairs to enhance within the BJP camp.

“I take the complete blame. A pacesetter has to take blame. Solely then solely issues can transfer ahead… The most important factor is that we now have to organize the get together fairly early for the Lok Sabha election. We have now to herald new blood, and new considering in any respect ranges. We have now to rejuvenate our staff. Inside three to 6 months, issues will change and assist us,” he stated.  

Karnataka sends 28 MPs to the Lok Sabha, making it a significant battleground state.  

Requested in regards to the put up of the chief of the Opposition, Mr Bommai, who will likely be probably the most senior MLAs from the BJP in the home, remained non-committal, saying he would bolster the get together marketing campaign whether or not he has the put up or not.

“As a accountable man, I do not go by the put up… whether or not the Chief of the Opposition is given to me. The general accountability is on me… I’ve been the Chief Minister for 2 years and have given so many good programmes. It’s for me to take it up as soon as once more to the folks,” he stated.