NE NEWS SERVICE
BENGALURU, DECEMBER 9
Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa retained power in the state after winning 12 out of the 15 Assembly seats that went to by-polls on December 5. The party needs hardly six seats to stay afloat, however grabbed six seats additionally in its favour.
Congress won in two seats, while an independent candidate won in one seat.
The Janata Dal (Secular) has suffered a severe setback with losing all the seats it had contested.
Bye-elections were held to fill the vacancies caused by the disqualification of 17 rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs, whose revolt led to collapse of the HD Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in July and paved the way for BJP to come to power.
The elections had taken place at Yellapur, Ranebennur, Vijayanagar, Yashwanthapur, Mahalakshmi Layout, Chikkaballapura, KR Puram, Shivajinagar, KR Pet, Hunsur, Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Hirekerur and Hoskote constituencies.
Siddaramaiah resigns as CLP leader
Congress leader Siddaramaiah resigned as the Leader of Opposition in Assembly, while Dinesh Gundurao quit as KPCC president.
“As a leader of the legislative party, I need to respect democracy. I have resigned as Congress Legislative Party leader. I have submitted my resignation to Sonia Gandhi,” Siddaramaiah said.
“We accept the mandate in Karnataka. I was given a free-hand during by-polls by AICC to choose the candidates for the bypoll. I have given my resignation to the post of KPCC President,” Dinesh Gundu Rao said.
Jubilant Yeddiyurappa said, “Voters have given their verdict and the results are out. Now we have to focus on the development of the state. I will give a good administration in the next three-and-half years with the help of our ministers and MLAs.’’
Karnataka people punishes Cong-JD (S): Modi
Addressing an election rally in Jharkhand on Monday morning, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Karnataka people have “punished” the Congress and JD(S) and taught them a lesson. He said, “Congress and its allies subverted the mandate in Karnataka, stabbed it in the back. These parties will now have to bite the dust.”
