Not a positive mandate for Congress: Shettar

Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Wednesday said the BJP accepted the people`s mandate in the assembly polls but claimed it was not a "positive" verdict for Congress. Speaking to reporters, Shettar said developmental works undertaken by BJP government were overshadowed by "confusion and other negative things" that helped Congress.

"More than the positive vote for Congress, negative vote for BJP has helped Congress gain majority," he said, adding his party could not reach out to the people on its developmental works. Shettar submitted his resignation as Chief Minister to Governor H R Bhardwaj who asked him to continue till alternative arrangements are made. Earlier, state BJP president Prahllad Joshi said the pary would hold a two-day brainstorming session from May 14. "We will hold BJP legislature party meeting on May 14 and on May 15 we will chalk out a strategy to strengthen organisation," he said. Asked who was responsible for BJP`s electoral rout, Joshi said "all leaders are responsible." To a question about the impact of B S Yeddyurappa, he said there were many factors which had caused the damage and "we will assess and rectify them." Asked if Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi failed to cast a spell for BJP in the election, Joshi said "when so much of negative votes were there, I will not attribute them to any central leader including Modi." PTI