New Delhi: Karnataka’s outgoing BJP Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai conceded defeat Saturday, saying the party could not make the mark despite a “lot of effort put in by the Prime Minister and other leaders”.
He said the party would do a detailed analysis once the full results came in, adding the BJP took this result on its stride and would come back forcefully in the Lok Sabha elections next year.
“As a national political party, we will see what were the gaps and deficiencies at different levels. We will go ahead and reorganise the party,” Bommai said.
The Congress looks set to win the state, leading in over 120 constituencies in the 224-seat Karnataka assembly. Its leaders said they were in a position to form the government on their own. In 2018, the Congress had assumed power with the help of the JD(S) but was toppled by the BJP after 14 months due to defectons.
The BJP, which got 104 seats in 2018, was leading in 69, according to figures released by the Election Commission of India. Former Congress ally Janata Dal (Secular) was ahead in 24 constituencies.
According to news agency PTI, the Congress had got a vote share of 43 per cent by 11:30 am, the BJP 36.04 per cent and the JD(S) 13.04 per cent.
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