Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Election temperature up in Karnataka

With the date of Karnataka assembly coming near, the temperature is going up and up. The main contest is between the ruling Congress party and the opposition BJP in the state, but the presence of JD(S) makes it triangular. The electioneering by the star campaigner of BJP Prime Minister Narendra Modi began yesterday. It can be easily inferred from his speeches at election meetings in Karnataka that he wants to make it the tussle between Congress President Rahul Gandhi and him. His intention is to rake up the national issue rather than the issues of Karnataka. He even threw a challenge at Rahul Gandhi to speak at least 15 minutes extempore about the achievement of his party government in the state in the language of his choice. He dared him to speak in English, Hindi, Kannada and even his mother tongue. By asking Rahul to speak in his mother tongue, he appears to have tried to raise the issue of foreign origin, though it is a dead issue. Giving national colour to Karnataka election national, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presents himself and Rahul Gandhi before the electorate to make their choices. It is very clear that PM is far ahead of Rahul Gandhi in popularity on a personal level in any part of the country. While Congress wants the Karnataka elections to be always focused on the issues of the state. Congress understands well that PM Modi is an orator par excellence. His oratorical skills are incomparable in the country. No political leader in the country can stand up to him in delivering speeches. He has charisma which has already proved in the past by winning state elections after elections. So, PM's rallies may make a difference in favour of BJP. There is no talk of corruption in the Karnataka assembly elections when the BJP's Chief Ministerial face BS Yeddyurappa has faced several charges of corruption, though acquitted in all. Apart from that, BJP has re-inducted the infamous Bellary brothers Janardhan Reddy and others and gave them tickets. The gang of Bellary -led by Janardan Reddy oversees the poll campaign there. Bellary brothers are accused in 3500 Cr. Iron ore mining scam. In the given situation, BJP cannot talk of corruption in Karnataka assembly elections. So, PM Modi also never mentioned anything about corruption. It also appears from PM's hints of moving towards former PM Deve Gowda's JD(S) in case of the elections throwing up a hung assembly, his party would coble up the majority with it to form the govt. JD(S) has also a considerable presence in the state. So, it cannot also be ruled out altogether. Karnataka is Congress's last bastion. This is the only big state in the country where Congress has been ruling for the last 5 years. Karnataka assembly result would also determine Congress' claim to the power at the Centre in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. It is also a prestige issue for BJP to win Karnataka and stake claim for 2019. Its result will reflect what is to come next year in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

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