New BJP MLAs discuss reasons for party’s poor poll show

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: A meeting of the Opposition BJP on Thursday discussed giving targets to lawmakers in the coming Lok Sabha polls. The meeting also discussed how the party’s image can be improved within one year due to the parliamentary elections in 2024.

Some leaders felt one of the reasons for the party’s humiliating defeat in the Assembly polls was the failure of state leaders to disprove the allegations levelled by the Congress Party such as 40 percent commission, PSI recruitment scam and the corruption charges against several ministers.

They felt the five guarantee schemes of the Congress made the rural masses vote en masse for that party. On the other hand, the hike in the reservation for SC/ST, Vokkaligas, and Lingayats failed to help the BJP in any manner, they said. The state leaders also reportedly accepted the fact that they failed to read the minds of the people and banked heavily on development works.

The PM wanted the state BJP to win the election based on the development agenda but people of Karnataka voted for the Congress due to the guarantee schemes. The hike in the prices of LPG cylinders, petrol/diesel, and essential commodities also had an impact on BJP prospects, the leaders said.

Asked about the selection of the Opposition Leader in the Assembly, former CM Basavaraj Bommai said this issue did not come up for discussion but general secretary Arun Singh has collected the opinion of lawmakers