Long journey of 24 years for the BJP....

It has been a long journey of 24 years for the BJP to lead a government in the country's southern part.

After the 1993 assembly polls threw up a fractured verdict for the first time in Karnataka, the BJP, with 18 members in the 224-member assembly, played a pivotal role in installing Janata Party government, headed by Ramakrishna Hegde. This was the first non-Congress government in Karnataka.

Though the BJP emerged as a single largest party with 79 seats in 2004 elections — which witnessed a three-way fractured verdict — it could not succeed to rise from opposition ranks to the ruling benches.

The party failed to maintain consistency in the elections held after 1983. BJP's strength was reduced to just two seats in 1985 and to four seats in 1989 elections. In 1994, with the Babri Masjid demolition issue still green in people's mind, the saffron party contested in 223 assembly segments and bounced back gaining 40 seats. This made it the principal opposition party.

Courtesy:timesofindia.com
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