Bangalore, August 21: The bypoll results on Friday will spell many things for both the ruling BJP and Opposition Congress. The JD(S) can however sit pretty whichever way the wind blows, bar the prestige at stake at its bastion in Ramanagaram.
Counting will begin at 8 am and the results are likely to be out by 11 am.
The bypolls in only two constituencies – Govindarajnagar and Channapattanna – can be attributed to BJP’s Operation Lotus. In the other three – Kollegal, Ramanagaram and Chittapur it was a result of its sitting candidates making it to the Lok Sabha in April-May.
For the BJP which is in a comfortable position after winnig the bypolls in December last year, losing in Govindarajnagar and Channapatana in particular, and the other three in general will indicate the change of referendum.
There is also a personal stake for its candidates former Congressmen V Somanna and C P Yogeshwar.
The Opposition Congress can either hope for a new swing in its fortunes or be condemned to another long patch in the wilderness. After the face-loss of zero in the bypolls in December last year.
—Agencies