BSY helps BJP take Koppal in its stride

BANGALORE: It’s not the BJP’s victory in Koppal, but its decisiveness and dimension that reveal many interesting facts for the ruling party, but a disturbing trend for the two Opposition parties. While the Lingayats stood solidly behind the BJP, indicating former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s sway over them, the Kurubas, however, seemed to be a little hesitant to throw their lot behind the BJP, given the presence of Siddaramaiah in the Congress party. The outcome of Koppal also confirms the oscillation of the Muslim votes between Congress and JD(S), while the SC/STs also seem to have supported the BJP in a big way, not only given Karadi Sanganna’s personal equations with them but also because of a number of schemes evolved by B S Yeddyurappa for them. The allegations of corruption against BSY and the Reddy brothers seemed to have had no effect on BJP’s prospects simply because in the eyes of the people, those who levelled charges — Congress and JD(S) — didn’t seem to have the credibility. BJP’s big win in Koppal also confirms that both Congress and JD(S) have learnt nothing from history. Had they displayed electoral pragmatism and fielded a common candidate, they could have stopped the BJP’s run.