Congress best score in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has certainly failed to emerge as the star performer for Congress in Lok Sabha elections, but when he meets seniors leaders in New Delhi on Saturday he will have the consolation of leading the party table with nine seats.  

For, he has not only managed to check the "Modi tsunami" which left the Congress in shambles in most states, even failing to open its account in some of them, but retain its tally in the previous House as well.

Though the Congress won only nine seats as compared with 17 of BJP, the party has run a close second to BJP in terms of percentage of vote share, registering 40. 8 per cent as against 43 per cent of BJP, despite the "NaMo" effect. Unlike in other states, none of the Union ministers who contested from constituencies in Karnataka, faced defeat.  

Explaining the reasons for Congress winning only nine seats, veteran leader and former Union minister M. V. Rajasekaran said "We failed to market the achievements of UPA-I, UPA-II and of Mr. Siddaramaiah's government. Of course, we have to analyze the performance in every constituency and find out if some of our leaders let down the candidates or they lost because of ego clashes."

Perhaps, it was the old malaise of the enemy within, which contributed to the party's defeat in some constituencies. Though Mr Siddaramaiah put up a brave front and ruled out quitting during his interaction with the media.