Bengaluru: In a candid evaluation of Karnataka Congress' performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections, MLA HC Balakrishna highlighted that the party's guarantee schemes failed to resonate with voters, leading to electoral setbacks, according to the reports,

Speaking to the media, Balakrishna attributed the defeat to various factors, emphasizing that the electorate perceived the party's guarantee schemes as unnecessary. He deferred the decision on the continuation of these initiatives to the Cabinet, stating, "Our defeat stems from several reasons. The guarantee schemes did not connect with voters, indicating their perceived redundancy. The decision to continue or discontinue these schemes is beyond my authority."

Balakrishna acknowledged the shift in voter preference towards the BJP in Bengaluru Rural, attributing it to the appeal of new faces and drawing parallels to historical defeats faced by prominent leaders like Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He also noted Prime Minister Modi's initial setback during the counting process.

Reflecting on Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar's role in past electoral successes, Balakrishna remarked on his inability to secure a win for his brother in the recent elections.

Echoing similar sentiments, Ramnagar Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain expressed disappointment over the lack of support from women voters, particularly highlighting the unexpected loss in Bengaluru Rural. Hussain remained optimistic about the party's future prospects, believing that voters would recognize its value in the coming months.

The Karnataka Congress, facing a challenging electoral landscape, secured only nine out of the total 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state, signaling a need for introspection and strategic recalibration moving forward.