The ruling BJP in Karnataka has fallen short of one seat to obtain a clear majority in the 75-member legislative council that went to polls on December 10. However, the saffron party is banking on the support of the lone independent MLC, Lakhan Jarkiholi, and the JD(S) for smooth passage of crucial bills, till the party gains an upper hand in the upper house.
The biennial elections to 25 seats from 20 local authorities was held as the members were due to retire on January 5, 2022.
The BJP won 11 out of the 25 seats, five more than the last time, while the Congress, which got 11 seats, won three seats less than it got in 2016.
The JD(S) winning only two out of the six seats it contested might prove to be major setback for the regional party ahead of the 2023 assembly polls, as it has lost the seats in Old Mysuru region, considered to be a stronghold of the party.
The legislative council now has 37 BJP members, 26 Congress and 2 (JD) members and one Independent MLC.
A major dampener for the ruling party was its shocking defeat in Belgavi (dual seat) constituency. The BJP's official candidate, Mahantesh Kavatagimath, who is currently the chief whip in the upper house was pushed to the third place after Congress candidate Channaraj Hattiholi, younger brother of Congress MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar, bagged the seat with first preferential votes. In a huge embarrassment to the BJP, Lakhan Jarkiholi, the rebel BJP candidate bagged the second seat.
Interestingly, Lakhan is the younger brother of BJP MLAs Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak) and Balachandra Jarkiholi (Arabhavi) and Congress MLA from Yamakanamardi, Satish Jarkiholi, the working president of state Congress. While Satish takes the credit for ensuring Hattiholi's victory, Ramesh and Balachandra are taking the blame for splitting the BJP votes by failing to convince Lakhan to withdraw from the contest. The BJP's defeat was due to Lingayats and ST community backing Hattiholi and Lakhan respectively.
The defeat in Belagavi has jolted the BJP as the region is politically significant with 18 assembly segments, and the party could not wrest the seat from the Congress despite having the support of politically influential families like the Kattis (Umesh Katti is an MLA), Jolles (Shashikala Jolle is a minister) and the Jarkiholis.
The BJP, which was hoping to secure a clear majority even in the council to ensure smooth passage the contentious bills, including the anti-conversion bills, is confident of getting support from either Lakhan or the JD(S).
While Lakhan has not pledged his support to the Congress, the JD(S) has frequently backed the BJP in both houses, especially when passing crucial bills either openly or by extending tacit support. In fact, the BJP chose to part with the council chairman's post for the JD(S) which had only 13 seats in the upper house prior to the December 10 polls.
With the changing power equation in the house, it remains to be seen if the BJP will rope in Lakhan to make good the shortage of one seat or continue to rely on the JD(S) till June 22, when another seven seats would fall vacant due to the members completing their term.