Independent MLA offers Congress support in Karnataka

Bengaluru: An independent candidate in Karnataka who had won the polls has promised her unconditional support to the Congress party in the state, All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala said on Sunday.

The candidate is Latha Mallikarju, daughter of veteran leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, late M P Prakash, PTI reported.-

Surjewala tweeted, "She has extended unconditional support to the Congress Party in Karnataka considering her ideological roots and commitment to Congress ideals. I thank her, her husband Mallikarjun and all the supporters and well-wishers. We will serve the 6.5 Crore Kannadigas together,"

Latha won the Harapanahalli seat by defeating BJP's G Karunakara Reddy by a good margin of 13,845 votes.

Veteran socialist and Janata Parivar leader MP Prakash died in 2011. He joined the Congress in his last days, which his son MP Ravindra continued till 2018 when he died.

In the May 10 elections to the 224-member Assembly, the Congress scored an emphatic victory with 135 seats, while the ruling BJP and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) secured 66 and 19 seats, respectively.

The Karnataka Assembly election results are being closely watched as they are seen as a stepping stone to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress's strong showing in Karnataka is likely to boost the party's morale and help it in its efforts to form a united opposition against the BJP at the national level.

The BJP's poor performance in the Karnataka Assembly elections was on the expected lines. The party won 104 seats in the 2018 assembly elections and formed the government with the help of the JDS. However, the BJP's decision to go solo in this election seems to have backfired. The party's campaign was heavily focused on the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the achievements of the central government, which seems to have failed to resonate with the voters.