Cong's tactical mistake cost it one more state

Neither the BJP nor the Congress could get an absolute majority on its own. Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has clearly emerged as both king and kingmaker as his party JD(S) is expected to get 41. BJP is expected to 107 still 5 short of absolute majority in the Karnataka assembly strength of 224. The Congress party could get only 72. Counting is on and the number is based on the trend. Having been charged as complacent in cobbling up the majority in Goa, Manipur, and Meghalaya after emerging as the single largest party there, it gave way to BJP to form govt. But Congress this time has very quickly swung into action and offered support to JD(S) to form the govt. Congress and JD(S) leaders are expected to meet the Governor this evening to stake claim to form the govt. But the BJP is also not going to leave its claim of forming the govt. under the leadership of its Karnataka Chief Ministerial face B S Yeddyurappa after having emerged as the single largest party in the assembly. Congress has already sacrificed its claim of Chief Ministership in favour of JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy. The overconfidence of getting back to power by the outgoing CM Siddaramaiyah appears to have led the Congress party to defeat. Congress has lost the last bastion of Karnataka. So far as the leadership of Rahul Gandhi as Congress President is concerned, Karnataka assembly election was his first test in which again he could not get success, though the party was also facing anti-incumbency factor. In the face of the formidable rival like Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose oratory is par excellence and his ability to connect with the people is marvelous, it is very difficult for Rahul Gandhi alone to match him in any way at the public platform. He fails to charm the people. People have no attraction for him as they had for his father, grandmother, and great-grandfather. They had a natural attraction and connection with the ordinary people very easily. His sister Priyanka Gandhi has some attraction and ability to connect with the people. The demand of bringing her into active politics with a responsibility at the national level has been raising every now and then. Now the time has come for bringing her into active politics to counteract the growing influence of PM Narendra Modi on the youngsters. PM Modi’s magic has to be neutralized by the Cong leadership to win elections. Congress should have allied with JD(S) before the Karnataka assembly elections itself in the name of secularism. If it had done so, it would have got two-third majority. It should also have realized that it was carrying the baggage of anti-incumbency as it had ruled the state for the last five years. Here, the Congress party made a tactical mistake that cost it very dearly. Now, there will be assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. In all these three states, BJP has been ruling. In MP and Chhattisgarh, it has been ruling for more than 10 years. But Congress has to go to elections with all precautions. Otherwise, PM Modi's electioneering itself creates a wave in favour of BJP. In Karnataka, Congress has not repeated the mistake it had made in Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya. So, it has rightly swung into action in time.