BENGALURU: Hundreds of BJP activists celebrated on Tuesday across Karnataka as the BJP appeared set to dethrone the Congress in the state.
Waving BJP flags and dancing to drum beats, the activists as well as some leaders cheered loudly in the party office here at Malleswaram. Many shouted slogans hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party President Amit Shah.
BJP workers celebrate outside party office in #Delhi as trends show the party is set to win #KarnatakaElectionResults2018. pic.twitter.com/uOznAJ6A7E
— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2018
Vote count on Tuesday from Saturday’s Assembly election showed the Bhratiya Janata Party almost touching the half-way mark in the 224-seat House. Polling, however, took place only in 222 seats.
Any party or grouping will need 113 of the total 224 seats to secure a majority in the Assembly.
The Janata Dal-Secular of former Prime Minister H.D. Dewe Gowda, which has been expected to play the role of a kingmaker in the event of a hung Assembly, was leading in 43 seats.
As the vote count progressed, BJP leaders became assertive, saying they were confident of taking power again in their only southern bastion. At the same time, Congress leaders began to speak about the possibility of an alliance with the JD-S.
BJP leader and Union Minister Sadanand Gowda said that there was no question of any alliance with the JD-S as his party was headed towards a clear majority.
Union minister Prakash Javadekar, who is in charge of Karnataka, met BJP President Amit Shah in New Delhi.
Analysts said the BJP was leading in Lingayat dominated seats and the JD-S in Vokkaliga dominated areas. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was leading in Badami constituency and trailing in Chamundeshwari.
The BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa was on the victory lap in Shikaripura.
“We will win with a majority,” said BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia.
The Congress was open to an alliance with the JD-S, party leader Ashok Gehlot said, as the party’s top leaders met in New Delhi.
IANS