JOIN USJD(S) vote share dips
The JD(S) has secured around 13 per cent votes (nearly 33 lakh votes) of the total number of votes polled (2.45 crore), which is seven per cent less compared to the party’s performance in 2004.
The party’s vote share was 20.45 per cent votes with over 51 lakh votes in 2004. In 1999 elections, the party had polled 10.85 per cent vote share (over 24 lakh votes) but had failed to win any seat.
Wins three seats
Interestingly, despite dip in the vote share, the party has won three seats this time, compared to two seats in the last elections.
Further, it is only in Tumkur this time that the JD(S) is in the second place. In rest of the constituencies, the party has been relegated to the third place. Whereas in 2004 polls, the party had occupied the second place in six constituencies and had lost elections with a slender margin -- Mysore, Mandya, Chikkaballapur, Tumkur, Chitradurga and Raichur seats. The per centage of votes polled by the party candidates in these seats was above 30 per cent in 2004. Now it is only between 10 and 20 per cent.
The party has been routed in Chamarajnagar, which was once considered the bastion of erstwhile Janata parivar. JD(S) had won here last time. The then Janata Dal had won in 1996 and 1998 elections here, the JD(U) won the seat in 1999 and in 2004 the JD(S) had bagged it.
Lack of good candidates
According to the party insiders, lack of good candidates was one of the main reasons for the poor showing.
Many of the candidates this time were novices. Whereas the candidates who came second in 2004 included seniors like P Kodandaramaiah in Chitradurga, A S Guruswamy in Mysore and Raja Mandangopal Nayak in Raichur, insiders pointed out.
Does it mean the JD(S) is loosing ground in the State? No, according to the party leaders. “The party contested only 20 seats this time. While two seats were left to the left parties, we did not field candidates in six seats. So, when total votes polled in these 20 places are taken into account (1.62 crore votes), the JD(S) has got over 20 per cent vote (with 33 lakh votes), JD(S) Spokesperson Y S V Datta argued.
Party leader M Raghupathi said the voting pattern changes when elections are held for Lok Sabha alone like it happened this time. National parties take away major chunk of votes compared to regional parties. But in 1999 and 2004 elections, elections to Lok Sabha and the State assembly were held together.
HIGHLIGHTS
JD(S)’ vote share and seats won in LS polls
Elections Vote share seats won
2009 around 13 % (33 lakh votes) 3
2004 20.45 % (51 lakh votes) 2
1999 10.85 % (24 lakh votes) 0
(Note: 2009 figures are as given by the party)