Karnataka Elections 2018: PM Modi achieves 60% strike rate with his campaign blitzkrieg

The Karnataka elections are over, and the BJP has emerged as the single largest party in the state. However, this wasn’t the condition during the second phase of campaigning, with ground reports suggesting that the Congress would form the majority and acquire around 120 seats.

In the final phase of the Karnataka elections, much like what he did in Gujarat, PM Modi campaigned continuously throughout the week and addressed 19 rallies. Some of the places he visited - Belgaon, Hubli, Mangalore, Tumakur, Gulbarga and Bellary comprise either two or three assembly seats, which takes the total number of seats to 29.

Of these, the BJP won 17, the Congress won 10, and the JD(S) won 1 seat, which showcased the Modi factor. He ended up with a strike rate of 60%, continuing his fine run when it comes to campaigning. 

Another factor that adds to the PM’s influence on the voter is encouraging his party workers. Ground reports have said that BJP party workers take the voters to the constituency and encourage them to vote, which has added to the BJP-voter connect in the last few years. It is also how the Congress at one point in time would win elections.

After becoming the single largest party in the state, PM Modi tweeted, “I thank my sisters and brothers of Karnataka for steadfastly supporting the BJP’s development agenda and making BJP the single largest party in the state. I salute the stupendous work of Karnataka BJP's Karyakartas who toiled round the clock and worked for the party.”

The BJP leaders described today's Assembly poll results in the southern state as an endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development agenda and claimed that the people had rejected the divisive, toxic and negative politics of the Congress.