Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)

Belagavi, Dec 15: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, D K Shivakumar, said that the legislative council election has made it clear that the people of the state prefer a change in the state leadership. He was speaking to media persons at the airport here on Tuesday December 14.

"We have won 11 seats. Our expectation was to register victory in 13 to 14 constituencies. Still, the way the voting has happened, there is a clear tilt towards the Congress," he explained. Noting that in several constituencies, voting has taken place against the BJP''s official candidates. The BJP leaders have to take a decision in these cases, he felt.

Shivakumar said that in Belagavi constituency, Congress candidate got over 3,000 votes which means that voters from the BJP have cast their first preference votes to the Congress candidate. He concurred that some second preference votes of his party have gone to the BJP.

"I am satisfied with the result but not happy. We expected to register victories in Kalaburagi, Ballari, Chikkamagaluru, and Shivamogga constituencies. BJP should think about who should be held responsible for cross voting against the BJP even in the home district of the chief minister," he added.