Karnataka bypolls: It's a fight for unity for Congress, prestige for BJP

With two days to go for the bypoll in Nanjangud and Gundlupet assembly constituencies, both, the BJP and the Congress are vigorously campaigning for their candidates. Being one of the most fiercely fought bypolls that the state has seen in recent years, the fight is for much more than mere seats. For the Congress, that was suffering from a severe leadership crisis, the bypoll has been an opportunity to come together while for the BJP, it is a question of prestige, more so for B S Yeddyurappa.

Why the bypoll is important for the BJP

The BJP, much like the Congress understands that the bypoll may not be a referendum for the 2018 assembly elections, however, the results would reflect directly on the perception people have about the BJP in the traditional Congress bastions. The bypolls are also B S Yeddyurappa's fist electoral test after his appointment as the BJP's state unit president. B S Yeddyurappa has been campaigning hard for both his candidates. Niranjan Kumar and Srinivas Prasad are B S Yeddyurappa's personal choices for the bypoll and much is riding on their victory for the 74-year-old leader.

The BJP's performance in the bypolls may have a direct impact on B S Yeddyurappa's chief ministerial aspirations. It is for this very reason that Yeddyurappa has taken it upon himself to drive the campaign. Incidentally, Srinivas Prasad has not been campaigning as much as B S Yeddyurappa. The BJP's state unit chief is everywhere. With questions being raised on his age and the fears of his chances of being the chief ministerial candidate dwindling, B S Yeddyurappa is compelled to prove a point with a victory. A victory would send out a message to all his detractors that he continues to be a mass leader who can consolidate votes and ensure victory.

What the Congress has to gain

The Congress began its campaigning in the two constituencies much later than the BJP. It was a divided house with leadership crisis plaguing the organisation. As if the Uttar Pradesh rout was not enough, the mismanagement by the senior leadership of the party in Goa and Manipur post the elections angered the workers and leaders in Karnataka. So much so that multiple representations were made asking the high command to change observers for the state.

The party workers have been demanding for a change in leadership if the party wishes to win in the 2018 elections. With the current leadership, if the Congress manages to win both the constituencies, the party would be successful in rebuilding the confidence of the workers. When the Congress set out for campaigning for the bypolls, workers were asked to set aside their differences and work together for the sake of the party till the bypolls conclude. The agreement was made on the condition that the leadership would change after the bypolls. For now, the campaigning has managed to unite the Congress but the same may not be the situation if the bypoll results are not favourable to the party.

While the bypolls may have no effect on the 2018 assembly elections, both, the Congress and the BJP have a lot to gain and lose depending on the results.

OneIndia News