BENGALURU: The Congress has emerged victorious in the Karnataka elections by making South India free from BJP. The grand old party is coming back to power in the state by winning 136 seats in the 224-member assembly. While the ruling party BJP managed to secure 65 seats, the JD(S) got only 19 seats.

The Congress Legislative Party will meet today to elect the Chief Minister. Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah and PCC President DK Shivakumar are being considered for the post of CM. The decision will rest with the Congress High Command. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai resigned yesterday.

This victory will help the Congress to gain an upper hand at the national level and to highlight Rahul Gandhi. This victory will also strengthen the anti-BJP opposition movement ahead of the upcoming five state elections as well as next year's Lok Sabha elections.

Congress leader Siddaramaiah won from Varuna with a majority of 46,163 votes. PCC President DK Shivakumar won in Kanakapura by securing more than 70 percent votes. He has a majority of 1,22,392 votes. Jagadish Shettar, who left the BJP and joined the Congress, lost in the Hubli-Dharwad constituency by about thirty thousand votes. While JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy won from Channapatna by 15,915 votes, his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy lost by more than ten thousand votes. Even though the BJP lost, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai won from Shiggaon with a majority of 35,000 votes.

Behind BJP's defeat

1. Congress used the 40% commissions row as a campaign weapon

2. Yediyurappa, who had popular influence, was removed from the post of Chief Minister

3. Hijab ban in schools, cancellation of four percent Muslim reservation alienated minorities

4. Reports that Karnataka's milk firm 'Nandini' will be merged with Gujarat's Amul stirred local sentiments.

5. Anti-incumbency sentiment against Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai

Behind Congress' win

1. Promises like free electricity, rice, and free travel for women

2. Minority support through the declaration of the restoration of Muslim reservation.

3. DK Shivakumar's organizational skills. Party stance against corruption

4. Dalit support increased for Congress after Mallikarjun Kharge from Karnataka became Congress president

5. Ensured votes of backward communities through Siddaramaiah

Seats won (seat difference in bracket)

BJP...................65 (-55)

Congress.............. 136 (+64)

JDS...................19 (-10)

Others........................ 4