Anti-Congress wave in state: Yeddyurappa

"People have reposed confidence in the BJP Government in Karnataka", Yeddyurappa told reporters here reacting to the BJP wresting Chitapur and Kollegal in the bypolls.
"The presitigeous Chittapur, where central Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge's son, Priyank Kharge, contested, and Kollegal, were considered key constituencies for both Kharge and Opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah. BJP has wrested both the seats, which shows that weaker sections are favouring the BJP Government", he said.
He, however, said it was unfortunate that BJP nominees in Govindarajanagar and Chennapatna, V Somanna and C P Yogeshwar respectively, were defeated by narrow margins and attributed them to "money power, muscle power and caste factor" and a "conspiracy hatched by both Congress and JDS".
He said the BJP would decide on Somanna's continuance in the ministry after discussing with party leaders.
He rejected the idea that "Operation Lotus", BJP's gameplan to woo influential opposition leaders into its fold. had failed. The people had voted for the BJP in two seats and a similar response was seen in the past polls.