Poll results unusual, unprecedented: PM

NEWDELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday dubbed the BJP’S performance in Karnataka as “unusual and unprecedented” and assured the people of the state that his party will work for their development.

The BJP, which won 104 seats in the state, is staking claim to forming government as the single largest party in the Karnataka assembly. The Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular), or JD(S), have announced their intent to form a coalition government.

Congress’ communication chief Randeep Surjewala rejected the BJP’S claim that the mandate was against the party. “An absolute majority for the coalition is clear. Coalition also has 56% vote share,” he wrote in a Twitter post.

Modi, addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters, hit out at the Congress for trying to create a perception that the BJP was a North Indian party and to cause a rift between the state and the Centre. “One cannot even imagine that the Congress, for its selfish political gains, will attempt to sabotage the Constitution of India,” he said.

While the Congress and the JD(S) have announced their intent to form a coalition government, the PM blamed the former for creating false perceptions about the BJP.

“An image was created that the BJP is a north Indian, Hindispeaking party. Are Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, the Northeastern states Hindi-speaking states? No, BJP represents India and our proud diversity.”

Even as the PM praised party chief Amit Shah’s electioneering skills, underlining that his campaigning style itself was a lesson on how election are contested, the mood at the party headquarters was subdued.

Modi said the loss of lives in an accident in his Lok Sabh constituency of Varanasi had cast a shadow on the Karnataka performance. He was referring to the collapse of a flyover.