Congress Gains in Karnataka Bypolls Reflect Public Trust, Says Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru, May 206 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday expressed gratitude to voters after the Congress secured victories in the by-elections held in Bagalkot and Davanagere, stating that the results reaffirm public confidence in the party’s governance and ideological foundation.

Reacting to the outcome, Siddaramaiah said that despite challenges such as misinformation campaigns and the influence of money power, voters in both constituencies chose to back the Congress. He described the mandate as a clear endorsement of the state government’s performance and reiterated the party’s commitment to fulfilling the expectations of the electorate. He also expressed optimism about sustaining this support in the run-up to the next Assembly elections in Karnataka.

Turning to developments in other states, the Chief Minister congratulated voters in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, stating that their verdict reflected a rejection of divisive politics. Commenting on Kerala, he said the Congress victory there was anticipated due to cohesive leadership, strategic candidate selection, and an effective campaign. He also acknowledged the contributions of senior party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in strengthening the party’s performance.

Siddaramaiah noted that the Congress Legislature Party in Kerala would soon elect its Chief Minister and expressed confidence that the state would set high standards in governance. He added that the victory in Kerala would have a positive impact on the Congress’s organisational strength in Karnataka as well.

Addressing the political situation in West Bengal, the Chief Minister alleged that the election outcome was influenced by multiple factors, including anti-incumbency sentiment against the ruling government and irregularities in the voter list revision process. He claimed that the omission of a significant number of voters, along with the misuse of administrative machinery and the role of money and muscle power, had affected the results.

He also voiced concern over the Bharatiya Janata Party’s success in the state, stating that such outcomes raise questions about the health of democratic values. According to him, reliance on religious polarisation in electoral strategies could weaken democratic institutions. However, he expressed hope that voters in West Bengal would reassess their choices in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Referring to the results in Tamil Nadu, Siddaramaiah described the scale of the outcome as unexpected. He observed that despite facing anti-incumbency, the DMK government’s welfare initiatives had garnered appreciation from the public. At the same time, he noted that certain sections of youth and women appeared to have been influenced by the political appeal of actor-turned-politician Vijay.

Terming the DMK’s defeat a setback to the Dravidian political tradition, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence that Chief Minister M. K. Stalin would recover from the setback. He also extended his congratulations to Vijay on his electoral success, acknowledging the changing dynamics of voter preferences in the state.

Overall, Siddaramaiah maintained that the Congress party remains resilient and committed to its principles, drawing strength from electoral victories and learning from setbacks across states.