Karnataka: BS Yediyurappa is set to retain power, with the BJP winning 12 of the 15 seats that went to bypolls last week. The saffron party needed minimum six to stay afloat in the southern state. The Congress won two seats, while an Independent won one. The JD(S) suffered the biggest setback with zero wins.
Accepting responsibility for the drubbing, Congress leader Siddaramaiah resigned as the leader of opposition in assembly, while Dinesh Gundurao quit as KPCC president. Neither resignations have been accepted yet.
The Karnataka bypoll 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. Twelve of these 15 seats were held by the Congress and three by JD(S).
