KJP played spoiler for BJP candidates

As the Karnataka assembly election results began trickling in, it became eminently clear that the BJP was done in by multiple factors. Infighting within the party, corruption charges against the government and its leaders and poor governance record adversely impacted the saffron party. While BS Yeddyurappa’s KJP hasn’t moved into double digits in terms of the seats won, it did have a major role to play in the defeat of many BJP candidates.
The poor showing of BJP in the Bombay-Karnataka and central Karnataka regions is directly linked to the visible split that the presence of KJP candidates caused in BJP votes. These were regions where BJP did spectacularly well in 2008. This time around, the rout is linked to its performance in this region.
It is also important to note that Bombay-Karnataka and central Karnataka regions have historically seen the Lingayat community’s strong presence. In 2008, BJP was able to garner a significant chunk of the Lingayat vote, partly because of projecting Yeddyurappa as its chief ministerial candidate. This time around, Lingayat votes seem to have been split, not just between BJP and KJP but a chunk even going to Congress.
The writer is a political analyst and pro vice-chancellor of Jain University