Bengaluru: A Congress fact-finding committee has blamed the party’s alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular) for its debacle in the Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka.
The committee was formed in the aftermath of a poor performance by the Congress-JD(S) coalition, which together managed to win just 2 out of 28 seats in the state in the April-May elections.
The committee’s report, submitted to Congress state unit president Dinesh Gundu Rao, parts of which were released to the media on Tuesday, says that the Congress and its allies were able to thwart the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in all other southern Indian states, except for Karnataka.
“The BJP got 51.40 per cent votes, Congress got 31.88 per cent votes and JD(S) got 9.68 per cent votes...despite alliance with JD(S) we got less seats and also votes in the Lok Sabha polls,” convener of the fact-finding committee Basavaraj Rayareddy told reporters.
“If we add up both parties’ vote share in 2018 assembly polls, the alliance should have got 57 per cent vote share together. It is clear that chemistry did not work out in Lok Sabha polls between both parties,” Rayareddy pointed out.
In 2018 assembly polls, out of 240 seats, Congress won 80 seats, BJP 104, 38 JD(S) and two independents.
{{/usCountry}}In 2018 assembly polls, out of 240 seats, Congress won 80 seats, BJP 104, 38 JD(S) and two independents.
{{/usCountry}}About 17-20 per cent votes swung towards BJP. In constituencies where JD(S) was strong and had MLAs, votes did not come to Congress, which clearly shows people did not accept the alliance, he said.
The report says that the coalition worked in six seats out of 28 — Shivamogga, Hassan (which the JD-S won), three seats in Bengaluru urban, and the Bengaluru Rural seat (which was won by the Congress).
Congress votes remained with the party, and JD(S) votes did not shift to Congress, but instead swung towards the BJP, he said, adding that there was also lack of coordination among workers.
Gundu Rao said, “We will have a detailed look at the report and then hold discussions on it and take decisions based on that.”
(Agencies contributed to this story)