Caste, stability plank worked for BJP in NK - The Hindu

Key Factors in BJP's Victory

The BJP secured all seven seats in the Karnataka by-elections, winning decisively with over 50% of the votes in each constituency. This success is attributed to several factors:

• Desire for Stable Government: Voters prioritized stability, favoring the ruling BJP.
• Lingayat Influence: The Lingayat community's support heavily favored BJP candidates.
• Organized Campaign: The BJP's structured campaign contrasted sharply with the Congress's disorganized efforts.
• Limited Impact of Issues: Concerns like inadequate flood relief and crop loss seemed to have minimal effect on voting patterns.

Congress's Weaknesses

The Congress faced challenges due to:

• Leadership Vacuum: Defections left the Congress with a significant leadership void and organizational weaknesses.
• Disorganized Campaign: The lack of a cohesive campaign strategy hindered their performance.

Other Influencing Factors

Several other factors potentially influenced the results:

• Local Promises: Promises of ministerial positions or new district headquarters swayed voters in certain constituencies.
• Personal Image of Candidates: Strong personal connections and reputations of some candidates played a role.
• Allegations of Money Power: Accusations of excessive spending by the BJP remain.