Congress has accepted defeat in the Karnataka Assembly bypolls for 15 seats, that took place on December 5. Congress who was leading in just two seats as trends came in, accepted the mandate of the voters. BJP was leading in 12 out of the 15 assembly seats, while an independent was leading in just one seat. Senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar, while accepting defeat, said that the party agrees with the mandate of the voters of these 15 constituencies.
"We have to agree with the mandate of the voters of these 15 constituencies. People have accepted the defectors. We have accepted defeat, I don't think we have to be disheartened," DK Shivakumar said.
Meanwhile, the BJP already started celebrations as it secured massive lead just a few hours after the counting began. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa celebrated the early leads with his son BY Vijayendra who sought his father's blessings and greeted him with sweets.
The elections were held for 15 Assembly seats which were left vacant after the legislators resigned in July, triggering the collapse of the Congress-JDS coalition and paving the way for the BJP to come to power. The BJP needed to win at least six of the 15 seats to remain in majority in the 225-member assembly including the Speaker, which would still have two vacant seats -- Maski and R R Nagar. In the assembly with the current strength of 208 after disqualifications, the BJP has 105 MLAs (including an independent), the Congress 66 and the JD(S) has 34 MLAs. There is also one BSP member, a nominated member and the Speaker.
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