Congress sweep gives BJP-JD(S) a reality check in Karnataka

Bengaluru: The ruling Congress on Saturday swept all three bypolls by dismissing the challenge from an emboldened BJP-JD(S) combine that was attempting to plant an anti-incumbency narrative capitalising on alleged scams and missteps by the Siddaramaiah government.

With the Congress pocketing Channapatna, Shiggaon and Sandur, the 3-0 scoreline would come as huge relief for embattled CM Siddaramaiah and his party.

The setback will force the BJP, which was looking to squeeze the Congress even further, to go back to the drawing board, while the JD(S) now has to swallow another bitter pill: the state’s only mainstream regional party is now out of the Vokkaliga-dominated Ramanagara district.

The Congress retained Sandur while wresting Shiggaon from the BJP and Channapatna from the JD(S). The bypoll shellacking dashed the dreams of two sons — Bharat Bommai, son of former BJP CM Basavaraj Bommai, and Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Union minister and JD(S) state president, H D Kumaraswamy.

The current round of bypolls provided an opportunity to the Opposition that wanted to take advantage of the scams in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), the Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation and the recent Waqf controversy. It seems as if these campaigns found little resonance with voters.

Immediately after the results, the Congress said the bypoll results are an endorsement of its flagship ‘guarantee’ schemes, which did not yield electoral dividends during the Lok Sabha polls and were attacked by the BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“We won because the guarantees worked for us,” Siddaramaiah said. “The lies and propaganda of the BJP and JD(S) have been defeated.”

Massive consolidation of Ahinda (minorities, backward classes and Dalits), led by Siddaramaiah, is being credited for the Congress’ bypoll show.

While Congress had the home advantage — bypolls often favour the party in power — the administration was desperate to put up a good performance against an aggressive Opposition. Shivakumar had deployed hundreds of party functionaries, including almost the entire Cabinet, to work on the ground, reflecting how seriously the party took the bypoll battle.

“This is an indication of what will happen in 2028. We’ll return to power,” Shivakumar, the Karnataka Congress president, declared.

A battered BJP accused the Congress of using money power to win. “They got contractors and officials to work for them,” Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said. “And, we announced our candidates at the last minute. This was a minus point,” he added.

BJP state president BY Vijayendra, who is already under attack from his detractors, said his party and the JD(S) would analyse the bypoll results. “We’re disappointed. We’ll take corrective steps going forward,” he said. “The Shiggaon result has shocked us,” he added.