BENGALURU: BJP is slowly fading away from the limelight in South India. Karnataka results are a revelation to the waning show of the saffron party in all south Indian states. Telangana is the next bastion which the party looks to usurp power but the gloomy show from Karnataka will have its effect on all neighboring states. At present, congress has 134 seats in Karnataka, a humungous total that is even unsurprising many in Congress.

After the BJPs victory in Tripura, PM Modi took the podium at party headquarters proclaiming loud about annexing South India in a similar fashion akin to the party’s total control over the northeast. Modi’s Kerala visit was also much gala after thousands thronged the streets to welcome the BJP’s numero uno.

However, the results in Karnataka left many baffled. Even though the exit polls predicted a congress resurgence, the numbers show a total demolition of the BJP in the state. The saffron party even lost its clout in party bastions. During the Lok Sabha elections, BJP favored Karnataka for the 29 seats which was a needed revival for the party to extend the tentacles of power in the south.

Congress manifesto made promises about banning the religious outfit Bajrang Dal. PM Modi carried the issue with clamor of ‘Jai Bajrang Bali’ in every campaign since. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharghe even related the PM to a venomous snake, but nothing came to fruition for the saffron party.

As of now, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai has accepted defeat. The BJP top brass is yet to respond. With this result, the South has formed a bulwark to BJP domination. It will be arduous for the PM Modi-led party to influence the South in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The wait will be worth until 2024. Meanwhile, this year will also mark a decisive election in Rajasthan which will be the landmark of the 2024 elections.