BJP will form Govt in Karnataka by an operation if it loses majority: Minister

Bengaluru: Revenue Minister and senior BJP leader R Ashoka exuded confidence in forming a government in Karnataka no matter even if his party loses the majority in the recent Assembly election by an operation under the guidance of the party’s high command.

Speaking to Kannada news channel News First, he stated that there is a plan B for the party to form the government, but did not reveal details on how it will be done. He also claimed that with the support of the high command, BJP will win the cup and emerge as the winners, forming a double engine sarkar in Karnataka.

In the previous 2018 Assembly election, BJP won 104 seats, Congress won 78 seats, and JD(S) won 37 seats. However, after bye-elections in 2019, BJP wooed into its fold legislators from Congress and JD(S), increasing their numbers in the Assembly to 120.

This time around, the Congress campaign focused on the shortcomings of the BJP, while the BJP relied on the Prime Minister's personality and the power of the 'double engine' government. The JD(S) called for a rejection of both national parties.

R Ashoka, who belongs to the Vokkaliga community, is seeking re-election for the fourth time from the Padmanabhanagar constituency in Bengaluru and is also contesting from the Kanakapura constituency in Ramanagara against Congress leader DK Shivakumar.

The Karnataka Assembly has 224 seats, and a party or coalition needs to secure at least 112 seats to form the government with many forecasting the Congress as the largest single party. While most exit polls suggest a hung Assembly in Karnataka, two exit polls have projected that Congress will form the government.