Why BJP may not outsmart Congress in Karnataka

Karnataka has become extremely important for the Congress considering the upcoming assembly elections

In Gujarat, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and almost every state in the country, BJP has managed to outsmart the Congress. From winning elections, forging alliances and cashing in on the rift within the Congress, the BJP's political acumen has helped it take the Congress by surprise. But it is a different story in Karnataka, where BJP is on the back foot.

While the BJP has taken an aggressive approach to issues, elections in other parts of the country, the Congress in Karnataka led by the new in-charge General Secretary Venugopal and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is dealing blow after blow to the BJP.

Congress in Karnataka has put the BJP state unit in a tight spot over many issues in the recent past. The Congress has played Hindi imposition in Namma Metro stations, separate flag row, Kannada as a mandatory subject in schools, Mahadayi river water sharing, Dalit appeasement, Indira canteens and now the Veerashaiva v/s Lingayat issue to its advantage, most importantly to BJP's disadvantage.

BJP in Karnataka is waiting for Amit Shah

Fully aware that the BJP will be cornered and caught between the party senior leaders and sentiments of Kannada people on the issues of Hindi imposition and state flag, the Congress timed its move on the same perfectly. While the Karnataka BJP could not make its stand clear over issues close to Kannada pride, the Congress went all out to convey to the people of the state that the government puts its sentiments first.

While the BJP planned to woo the Dalit voters by visiting their colonies and dining with them, the Congress took the welfare scheme routes. While the Siddaramaiah government doled out freebies and scholarships to one section of Dalits, an international conference on Dr B R Ambedkar was organised to appeal to another section of the community.

While the BJP trumped the Congress in Uttar Pradesh elections by making it a known entity and in Manipur and Goa by racing ahead in the alliance race, the Congress in Karnataka easily demolished the communal unrest in Coastal Karnataka which was fast becoming an agenda for the BJP to fight elections on.

Setting its infighting aside, the Congress in Karnataka is focusing on systematically attacking each agenda of the BJP. The Congress is currently two steps ahead of the state BJP on almost all issues and is managing to take the party by surprise. While the BJP is doing very little to counter the Congress, the state unit is eagerly waiting for Amit Shah's visit in August.

OneIndia News