Lotus blooms in Karnataka in 2008

BANGALORE: The BJP's 'lotus' bloomed for the first time in south India in 2008 but the saffron party had little time to celebrate as Karnataka was rocked by serial bomb blasts in capital Bangalore and attacks on churches that drew flak in the country and abroad.

But the state saw history being made when the scientists of Bangalore-based ISRO successfully launched the country's first unmanned moon mission -- Chandrayaan-1 on October 22 from Sriharikota.

Karnataka, which witnessed political instability after the 2004 Assembly elections threw up a fractured verdict and ultimately led to collapse of three coalition governments, turned a new leaf with the people voting into office the BJP government led by B S Yeddyurappa.

The assuming of office by Yeddyurappa realised the saffron party's dream of making Karnataka its gateway to the South. The elections saw the rejection of Congress which was hoping to make a comeback and Deve Gowda's JD(S) biting the dust.

The BJP fell three seats short of majority. However, JD(S) lost four of its MLAs and the Congress three and the legislators, who wrote a new chapter circumventing the anti-defection laws, will face the electorate in the December 27 by-elections.

Even as the counting of votes for the assembly polls were underway on May 25, a massive hooch tragedy struck the state claiming more than 130 lives in Bangalore, neighbouring Kolar and Hoskote.