The results for the Karnataka elections are out, and finally, Congress has a reason to smile. After multiple disasters, and a consolation victory in Himachal Pradesh, the party has made it big in Karnataka. However, more than Congress, this setback has some important lessons for BJP.
The 2023 Karnataka legislative assembly elections have seen it all: regionalism, communalism, factionalism as the list goes on. The three prominent parties: Congress, BJP and Janata Dal [Secular] locked their horns over the 224 seats on offer. However, as the results were announced, it seems that Congress had the last laugh.
“Moral victory for Congress”
Congress has certainly made a mark for itself. They haven’t scored it big, but with more than 120 seats, it seems that they’re in for a stable government. They have scored it big more in rural seats, than the urban ones.
Now the real tussle will start, few days later, among Congress leaders for the CM chair. Since DK Shivakumar has won his constituency with a resounding majority, the situation, despite being advantageous for Congress, would be far from a cakewalk, and with Siddaramaiah also staking claim to the chair, this is going to be an interesting episode in the near future.
JDS: Nothing more, nothing less
On the other hand, things haven’t changed much for Janata Dal [Secular]. Like we predicted, the party won’t score beyond the mark of 20 to 30 seats, and the results indicate the same. Moreover, it is here that the troubles for JDS supremo HD Kumaraswamy actually begin. He is not having a comfortable lead in his own constituency, while his own son Nikhil has lost the elections.
Compare that to 2018, where despite having lesser seats than Congress or BJP, Kumaraswamy managed to do in the state what his father, HD Deve Gowda did in 1996. Had the results change somewhat drastically, JDS could have best been the kingmaker, but not the absolute power in the state of Karnataka. But as of now, a question mark has been posed on the significance of this regional stalwart for sure.
“Bommai is no Yeddyurappa”
On a serious note, BJP needs some serious introspection, though this setback has come at an opportune moment. For one, the party didn’t have a strong leadership base. Even though the party hit almost all the chords right, they faltered at where it matters the most, local leadership.
How so? Much as we would like it, Basavaraj Bommai was no BS Yeddyurappa. Forget the charisma, he couldn’t even stand up to the onslaught of the Congress leaders, who for all their flaws, hit one note right: stick to regional matters! For once, even BJP’s star campaigner Rahul Gandhi failed in his magic, as the local leaders had done their homework right. The flip flops of Bommai on matters of sovereignty and nationalism only made the matters worse.
In a way, the regional card did reign supreme, and this certainly reflects in the results. Had it not been so, it would have been a real battle of wits between BJP and Congress, since it is the rural seats, which decide the fate of the state. Aggressive Hindutva is not enough if it is not backed by solid results on social empowerment, economic growth, and the UP Municipal Elections are a testimony to that. So, dear BJP, it’s time to THINK!
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