JOIN USBJP patriarch L K Advani's contention during the just-concluded BJP conclave that the party's failure in making leaders accountable in Karnataka, despite corruption, is turning out to be prophetic as people seem to have rejected the party in the ULB elections.
On the other hand, the Congress leaders are expressing confidence that they will return to power after the next Assembly polls.
“Advani is a senior leader of the BJP. He said people are disappointed with his party too, if they are angry with the Congress. Half of what he said is correct. What he said about the BJP is amply proved by the result of Karnataka local urban body polls," Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi told reporters here.
On the other hand, BJP said the party will introspect and claimed it will spring back to power in the coming Assembly elections.
“We did not win in the local bodies elections and this is alarming. We will definitely introspect about it,” BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.
"In the Assembly elections, we will do well and we will win the elections," Hussain claimed.
Though the BJP put up a brave front, sources said former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's decision to form KJP had affected the party's fortunes. With senior party leader Advani having categorically expressed his opposition to Yeddyurappa, the BJP will find it difficult to forge any pre- or post-poll alliance with KJP.
Not having any electoral understanding with Yeddyurappa's party is likely to see a repeat of the local bodies polls in the Assembly elections as his candidates could cut into BJP votes and lead to the party's ouster from power, said a party leader.