Ruling BJP faces massive defeat in Karnataka urban local bodies

 

Bangalore, 11 March 2013 (IANS): The Congress Monday headed for a big win in Karnataka urban local bodies, leaving ruling BJP way behind as counting of votes polled Thursday got underway in the state.

 

The Congress has so far bagged more than 1,200 seats of the 3,000 for which results were declared by 10.30 a.m., while the BJP was way behind, with just around 580 seats.  Janata Dal-Secular was slightly ahead of the BJP, bagging about 600 seats.

 

Balloting took place Thursday for over 4,800 seats to run 207 urban local bodies.

 

Former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa’s Karnataka Janata Party was struggling, with around 200 seats.

 

The rest were taken by smaller parties and independents.

 

Around 70 percent of 8.5 millon voters of the state’s total electorate of more than 40 million had voted in the elections to urban local bodies.