Bangalore, Oct 8 (UNI) The Karnataka local body elections have stimulated the fall of two governments in the state in a span of 40 months.

Earlier, the Dharam Singh led Congress-JD(S) coalition government collapsed in January 2006, after the elections to taluka and zilla panchayats.

Now the recent elections to urban local bodies had proved fatal to Kumaraswamy led JD(S)-BJP Karnataka Development Front (KDF) government.

The 13th Karnataka Assembly for which elections were held in April 2004 threw a fractured mandate as none of the three frontline parties -- Congress, JD(S) and BJP-- could secure a majority.

While the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 79 members, the Congress secured only 65, followed by JD(S) 58.

The first ever coalition government in the state was led by Congress with N Dharam Singh as Chief Minister and JD(S) leader Sidharamiah as state's new Deputy Chief Minister in May, 2004.

However, the relationship between the Congress and JD(S) soured after the elections held to Taluk and Zilla Panchayaths.

In a sudden coup overthrowing the Dharam Singh government, H D Kumaraswamy took over as the Chief Minister while BJP's B S Yediyurappa became Deputy Chief Minister.

This was for the first time that BJP could get a toehold in South India.

However, the recent elections to urban local bodies in which JD(S) fared well, acted as a jinx for the H D Kumaraswamy government.

The relationship between the two coalition partners-JD(S) and BJP-soured, following Mr Kumaraswamy's refusal to hand over power to BJP as per an agreement entered at the time of forming a coalition government with the BJP.

UNI