What is common about BJP in Karnataka and Congress in Gujarat?

Assembly elections will be held in Gujarat this year while Karnataka goes to polls in 2018

Arch rivals on the political front, BJP and Congress may, after all, have something in common, albeit in different states. With assembly elections in Gujarat and Karnataka set to be a battle between the two parties, Congress in the former and BJP in the latter face the same issue, hopeless division.

The factions, infighting and rebellion in the Gujarat Congress are proving to be a boon for the BJP in the state while the situation is vice versa in Karnataka. Despite being in power for 15 years, anti-incumbency is a non-issue for the BJP in Gujarat. "In fact, the BJP leadership is more confident of a comfortable victory in Gujarat despite the anti-incumbency factor. Karnataka is the real challenge simply because the firefighting has to happen from within first. In Gujarat, the BJP has no competition," said a BJP leader.

Analysts agree that hopeless division is plaguing the BJP in Karnataka as much as it is bothering the Congress in Gujarat. "Factionalism in Gujarat Congress is only making the part easier for BJP but the BJP need not be too happy. In Karnataka, its unit is in a similar condition. The hopeless division is playing to the other's advantage," said Psephologist Dr Sandeep Shastri.

There's hope for BJP but Congress may not be able to salvage itself

Time is on BJP's side, at least on its Karnataka unit's side. With elections almost a year away, the BJP unit in Karnataka has time to set its house in order. The same is not the scenario for the Congress in Gujarat. The elections are around the corner with leadership crisis and rebellion still brewing. Six MLAs expelled by the Congress are all set to knock on the BJP's doorstep.

Ahmed Patel's win in the Rajya Sabha elections came as a shot in the arm for the Congress but a loss of face for the BJP despite the party managing to win two of the three seats. BJP will be back with vengeance. Amit Shah's target for his cadre to achieve is 150 seats in Gujarat, the same has been set for Karnataka too.

Moreover, Amit Shah's three-day visit to Karnataka is expected to weed out all differences within the unit and put the focus back on track towards elections. In the Gujarat Congress, bringing about unity is no small task. With a lack of assertive leadership and the grand old party embroiled in the old guard v/s the new row, it may be too little too late for the party to trump BJP in Gujarat.

OneIndia News