The Indian National Congress secured a huge majority winning 132 seats.

The Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) faction of former prime minister Deve Gowda also bit dust winning only 10 seats.

The Janata Dal (JD) government collapsed in mid-1999 owing to a split in the party.

The Chief minister J. H. Patel, party president C. Byre Gowda and many other prominent leaders were part of the Janata Dal (United) faction, and along with Ramakrishna Hegde, allied with the BJP,[2] whereas Deve Gowda and his associates including the deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah joined the JD(S) faction.

Owing to the anti-incumbency against both the factions of the JD, Congress won handsomely.