This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/08/india-congress-party-election-win

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
India's ruling Congress party boosted by decisive state election win India's ruling Congress party boosted by decisive state election win
(35 minutes later)
India's beleaguered Congress party, hit by a series of corruption scandals and charges of policy drift, received a much-needed boost on Wednesday with a decisive win in a critical state election.India's beleaguered Congress party, hit by a series of corruption scandals and charges of policy drift, received a much-needed boost on Wednesday with a decisive win in a critical state election.
With almost all votes counted in the southern state of Karnataka, home of much of India's famous information technology industry, the Congress party, which has led coalition governments at a national level in India since 2004, appeared to have won a crushing victory over the opposition Bharatiya Janata party (BJP). With almost all votes counted in the southern state of Karnataka, home of much of India's information technology industry, the Congress party, which has led coalition governments at a national level in India since 2004, appeared to have won a crushing victory over the opposition Bharatiya Janata party (BJP).
The Hindu nationalist BJP had governed Karnataka for five years but saw popularity drain away amid allegations of crony capitalism, plunder of resources and corruption.The Hindu nationalist BJP had governed Karnataka for five years but saw popularity drain away amid allegations of crony capitalism, plunder of resources and corruption.
The win for the centre-left Congress, with 117 seats out of 224 at the most recent count and enough to form a majority government in the state, will invigorate the party as national elections – that must be held by the middle of next year – loom. The win for the centre-left Congress, with 117 seats out of 224 at the most recent count and enough to form a majority government in the state, will invigorate the party as national elections – which must be held by the middle of next year – loom.
The local Indian Express newspaper called the result "a spectacular comeback" for Congress.The local Indian Express newspaper called the result "a spectacular comeback" for Congress.
It is also a boost for Rahul Gandhi, the political heir of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, and the new face of the party.It is also a boost for Rahul Gandhi, the political heir of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, and the new face of the party.
"The Karnataka government has created a world record in corruption," Gandhi, a contender for prime minister in 2014 and the son of Sonia Gandhi, the party president, said at a recent Congress rally in Karnataka."The Karnataka government has created a world record in corruption," Gandhi, a contender for prime minister in 2014 and the son of Sonia Gandhi, the party president, said at a recent Congress rally in Karnataka.
In Karnataka, the BJP's image had been dented by a £2bn illegal iron-ore mining scandal and a vicious internecine political war that has led to the three different chief ministers in the past five years. At a national level, no clear official leader has emerged to unify the party's message to voters. In Karnataka, the BJP's image had been dented by a £2bn illegal iron-ore mining scandal and a vicious internecine political war that has led to three different chief ministers in the past five years. At a national level, no clear official leader has emerged to unify the party's message to voters.
But Congress also has to deal with public anger at a slowing economy with high interest rates and soaring inflation as well as its own stumbling response to pressure from single-issue protests such as those that followed the gang-rape of a 23-year-old student in Delhi, the capital, last year. It has suffered disappointments in other elections, such as that in the vast, northern state of Uttar Pradesh last year.But Congress also has to deal with public anger at a slowing economy with high interest rates and soaring inflation as well as its own stumbling response to pressure from single-issue protests such as those that followed the gang-rape of a 23-year-old student in Delhi, the capital, last year. It has suffered disappointments in other elections, such as that in the vast, northern state of Uttar Pradesh last year.
Analysts have pointed out that Karnataka represents just 28 seats out of a maximum of 552 in the Lok Sabha, India's lower house, and warned that any win there does not necessarily mean the party's national fortunes are looking brighter.Analysts have pointed out that Karnataka represents just 28 seats out of a maximum of 552 in the Lok Sabha, India's lower house, and warned that any win there does not necessarily mean the party's national fortunes are looking brighter.
Canvassing by Narendra Modi, the BJP's star campaigner and one of the most divisive politicians in India, was limited in Karnataka - possibly because he did not want to be tainted by almost certain defeat. Canvassing by Narendra Modi, the BJP's star campaigner and one of the most divisive politicians in India, was limited in Karnataka – possibly because he did not want to be tainted by almost certain defeat.
Modi and Gandhi have emerged as the leading personalities in their parties in the countdown to the forthcoming general election, even though under the parliamentary system there is no guarantee either would become prime minister. Modi is currently the chief minister of Gujarat.Modi and Gandhi have emerged as the leading personalities in their parties in the countdown to the forthcoming general election, even though under the parliamentary system there is no guarantee either would become prime minister. Modi is currently the chief minister of Gujarat.
Gandhi, 42, keeps a low profile in contrast to Modi, a firebrand politician praised for his business-friendly approach and Gujarat's economic success but mistrusted by many because of religious riots between Hindus and Muslims on his watch.Gandhi, 42, keeps a low profile in contrast to Modi, a firebrand politician praised for his business-friendly approach and Gujarat's economic success but mistrusted by many because of religious riots between Hindus and Muslims on his watch.
Going beyond his usual theme of economic development, Modi has attacked Rahul Gandhi as the "politician born with a golden spoon" and claimed that Congress was more corrupt than the BJP. Going beyond his usual theme of economic development, Modi has attacked Gandhi as the "politician born with a golden spoon" and claimed that Congress is more corrupt than the BJP.
But the BJP's likely loss in the state will be a setback to any hope that the party had of making inroads into the south of India, where it has traditionally been weak.But the BJP's likely loss in the state will be a setback to any hope that the party had of making inroads into the south of India, where it has traditionally been weak.
"Karnataka was supposed to be the gateway to the south but the gateway door now seems to be closing on them," Sandeep Shastri, a political academic, told Reuters news agency before the polls."Karnataka was supposed to be the gateway to the south but the gateway door now seems to be closing on them," Sandeep Shastri, a political academic, told Reuters news agency before the polls.
Some have suggested the Congress party would call general elections early following a win in Karnataka. Senior party figures have now said this would not happen. Some have suggested the Congress party may call general elections early following a win in Karnataka. Senior party figures have now said this will not happen.
"I think we should simply … do work. Parliament, MPs, state governments, ministers … all should do hard work. Why talk about elections which is one year away?" Palaniappan Chidambaram, the finance minister, said. "I think we should simply … do work. Parliament, MPs, state governments, ministers … all should do hard work. Why talk about elections which are one year away?" Palaniappan Chidambaram, the finance minister, said.
guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8amguardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am