By IANS
New Delhi : Elated by its successive victories in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has predicted a similar result in Karnataka where assembly elections could be held early next year.
Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani, while congratulating his party for its spectacular victory in Himachal Pradesh, said Friday: “2007 is ending with an unmistakable statement about the coming change in the political equation in the country.”
He said in statement: “If the BJP’s victory in Gujarat was on account of a strong pro-incumbency vote, in Himachal Pradesh it was because of a strong anti-incumbency vote. In both the states, the vote was against the Congress.”
Advani recalled that soon after the BJP’s victory in Gujarat “I had stated that this signals the beginning of the BJP’s comeback trail. Today’s results from Himachal Pradesh have shown that the trail has progressed further. It will reach its ultimate destination whenever the next parliamentary elections are held.”
He added: “In a few months from now, Karnataka will elect a new legislative assembly. I have no doubt that my party will secure a majority on its own whenever the elections are held in Karnataka.”
Meanwhile, BJP president Rajnath Singh ascribed the Congress’ defeat in Himachal Pradesh to inflation, ignoring the plight of farmers, appeasement of the minorities, its failure on the internal security front and the lack of credibility and development by the state government.
The BJP won 41 of the 68 seats in the Himachal Pradesh assembly.