Other Publications
Hindu nationalist BJP wins state elections in southern India for first time
The Associated Press , New Delhi | Mon, 05/26/2008 6:20 PM | World
India's main Hindu nationalist opposition party has won state elections in southern India for the first time, dealing the ruling Congress party a setback ahead of national elections expected next year.
The Elections Commission of India announced late Sunday that the Bharatiya Janata Party won the polls in Karnataka state, taking 110 of the 224 seats in the state parliament, just three short of an absolute majority.
Congress, which conceded defeat, took 80 seats and the secular Janta Dal party won 28 seats. Independents took the other six positions, according to the commission.
The "triumph in Karnataka will prove to be a turning point," senior BJP leader L. K. Advani said in a statement.
"This geographical expansion of the BJP, and the simultaneous shrinkage of the Congress party almost all over the country, shows the shape of things to come in the run-up to the next
parliamentary elections," he said.
Congress unexpectedly defeated the BJP in national elections in 2004.
Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi dismissed Advani's statement as "completely misleading and inappropriate," noting that his party also gained seats in Sunday's elections.
In recent months Congress has been hurt by rising prices and continued dissatisfaction among the millions of rural poor who have not benefited from India's economic growth.(**)
What's On
- Franchise & Business Concept
11/13/2009 11/15/2009 Jakarta Convention Center - Indonesia Furniture Fair
11/14/2009 11/22/2009 Jakarta Convention Center - Indonesia Maternity & Baby Expo 2009
11/20/2009 11/22/2009 Jakarta Convention Center
- Festival of India
10/29/2009 12/15/2009 Balai Kartini & Umar Ismail Hall, Jakarta
- Best Dutch Books Designs
10/08/2009 11/12/2009 Erasmus Huis, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said Kav S-3, Kuningan, South Jakarta (Tel. 5241069) - Power of the Shape. Sculpture exhibition by Dolorosa Sinaga
10/29/2009 11/15/2009 Kendra Gallery of Contemporary Art, Bali Until Nov. 15 Jl. Drupadi No.88B, Basangkasa Seminyak, Bali - The Erased Time: Solo exhibition by FX Harsono
11/01/2009 11/14/2009 Galeri Nasional Indonesia, Central Jakarta
The Reader (not verified) — Tue, 05/27/2008 - 8:47am
Key piece of information that was left out is that the Congress is the former Muslim League known by a new name.