As BJP struggles to form a government in Karnataka after becoming the single largest party, the narrow gap with which it lost eleven seats, reveal how close it was from gaining a majority.

As per the Election Commission of India website, the saffron party has lost 11 seats in the assembly elections for a margin that was below 3,000.

If they had won 11 seats, that included Badami, where outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah narrowly won with a margin of 1,696 votes, they could have ended up crossing the majority mark by winning 115 seats.

The other ten seats which saw a similar outcome were Maski, Hirekerur, Kundgol, Yellapur, Gadag, Sringeri, Athani, Vijay Nagar,Jamkhandi and Yemkanmardi.

However, it was not just BJP who had to suffer narrow defeats.

Rival Congress lost two seats, Aland to BJP and Krishnarajanagara to JD(S), for less than 3,000 votes.

JD(S) also saw its candidates defeated at Pavagada by Congress and in Turuvekere by BJP to similar margins.

But it is BJP, now finding itself facing the alliance between Congress and JD(S) that will be most hurt by the narrow defeats.

First Published:May 16, 2018 6:16 PM IST