Saturday, January 1 2005 17:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: The end of Veerappan saga and formation of the first-ever Coalition Government made 2004 truly significant for Karnataka.

Dealing a stunning blow to Congress, the people in the State gave a fractured verdict in the Assembly elections with Opposition BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) emerging as the single largest party.

Anti-incumbency factor, three successive droughts, Cauvery dispute and urban-centric image resulted in people showing the door to the Congress, which was confident of regaining power.

Congress just about managed to stay afloat with 65 of the total 224 seats while BJP, though it emerged as the single largest party with 79 seats, could not realise its dream of making Karnataka its "Gateway to the South".

It was, however, a "rebirth" for Janata Dal (Secular), which emerged like a phoenix bagging 58 seats, a feat that brought its supremo H D Devegowda into political reckoning as the party emerged as a key player in the formation of the Government.

Even as former Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge waited to stake his claim to the hot seat, Dharam Singh, the Rajput veteran and eight-time MLA from Jewargi in Gulbarga district, beat him (Kharge) to it, thanks to his proximity to Devegowda.

Bitter rivals in polls, coalition partners Congress and JD-S are yet to find political stability with irritants continuing to haunt them.