Karnataka polls: Will Bajrang Dal ban promise prove costly for Congress?

With less than ten days to go for the May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka, the Congress has vowed a crackdown against religious fundamentalist organisations like the Bajrang Dal and Popular Front of India (PFI).

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"The Congress Party is committed to take firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred amongst communities on grounds of caste or religion. We believe that law and Constitution is sacrosanct and can not be violated by individuals and Organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities," the Congress manifesto read.

"We will take decisive action as per law including imposing a ban on any such organisations," it added.

The move has provided the Bharatiya Janata Party a chance to attack the Congress and leverage the soft Hindutva vote bank.

The BJP's top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are making it a point to include the "Jai Bajrang Bali" slogan in their public rallies, accusing the Congress of insulting Lord Hanuman, revered by all Hindus.

At a public meeting at Hospet in Vijayanagara, PM Modi had come down heavily on the Congress promise of banning Bajrang Dal saying,

"Earlier, Congress locked up Prabhu Shri Ram (Lord Ram). And now they want to lock up people who say 'Jai Bajrang Bali," PM Modi said.

While the hashtag "I am Bajrangi" campaign is going viral on social media in Karnataka, the Bajrang Dal has decided to conduct 'Hanuman Chalisa' recital programme, to counter Congress.

However, the big question is: Will Bajrang Dal ban promise hurt Congress' prospects and benefit BJP? Some experts and BJP functionaries are divided on the row.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the Congress would be uprooted from the country if the devotees of Lord Hanuman rebelled against it.

"The devotees of Lord Hanuman are the Bajrangis of Bajrang Dal and the Congress Party has announced in its election manifesto that it would ban the Bajrang Dal. If the devotees of Lord Hanuman revolt, then the Congress will be uprooted from the country," Bommai's office quoted him as saying in a statement.

According to political pundits, Congress's vow to ban Bajrang Dal could prove costly for the grand old party. Though the announcement was seen as a move to woo the minority vote bank, it may end up helping the BJP in a reverse polarisation of Hindu votes.

However, Congress expects minimal impact from its promise to take action against Bajrang Dal except for a couple of seats like Moodabidri in coastal Karnataka.

"There is no connection between the Bajrangbali and Bajrang Dal. Moreover, Bajrang Dal is not a popular organisation and the BJP's attempt to polarise and link to Lord Hanuman will be countered," said a Congress leader.