Bengaluru: Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the Congress would closely study the message from voters in the Legislative Council elections and make corrections, acknowledging that the Bengaluru Teachers constituency result had been unexpected.
Speaking to reporters near his Sadashivanagar residence on Wednesday, he said the party had expected to win two seats in the graduates’ and teachers’ constituency elections, but that expectation had not materialised.
“We respect the voters’ decision”
Shivakumar said the party accepted the verdict with respect. Although Congress had lost, he maintained that it had received a good number of votes and said the results would be reviewed.
Responding to BJP and JD(S) leaders describing the outcome as a sign of what lay ahead, he pointed to Channapatna and Shiggaon and asked whether those results were also an indication. He said there were lessons to learn and that the party knew how to prepare its workers.
New electoral-process action plan after November
Asked about Congress losing despite the four Council seats being contested through ballot papers, Shivakumar reiterated his support for ballot-paper elections. He said there were several problems in the electoral process and that his party would bring out a new action plan after November.
Seeks PM’s time for all-party drought-relief delegation
On drought relief, he said accounts were being verified, a government order had been issued and funds released, and the relief would be credited after discrepancies were corrected.
Shivakumar said he would seek time for an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bengaluru during the November 15 visit he referred to in connection with the Metro inauguration.
Read also: Shivakumar says Pink Line inauguration planned around Modi’s November 15 visit; CMRS nod pending.
He also said the government had objections to the final electoral roll and had been given an opportunity to submit them. He claimed the Election Commission had accepted objections the party had raised on Form 7.
Related election coverage: Yediyurappa urges Shivakumar to resign after NDA’s four-seat Council sweep.
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Atul Chaturvedi 