Karnataka: Why this is a battle like never-before for the Congress

It is an election like never before for the Congress in Karnataka as it has to present itself as the main challenger to the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Karnataka is one of the most important states in the country and for the BJP the only stronghold in the South. The Congress apart from trying to come to power is also fighting a perception war as it looks to present itself as a main challenger to the BJP ahead of 2024, with several joint opposition meetings taking place.

The election is also a prestige battle for Congress chief Mallikarjuna Kharge for whom a win in his home state, would elevate his standing even further. While the Congress is taking the fight to the BJP on corruption allegations, it would also be riding on the voting pattern that the state has seen over the past many decades. No party has been voted back into power in recent times. The fact that Karnataka has always voted out the incumbent is another aspect that the Congress is riding on.

For the BJP, a win would be a morale booster and would also signal that it has managed to defy the pattern or rotational politics. It is relying heavily on the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The PM had lifted the BJP's lacklustre campaign in the 2018 elections and many had questioned whether the party had brought the PM into the campaign late.

For the BJP a win would also be a morale booster ahead of its direct fights with the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The JD(S) has restricted itself to winning big in the Old Mysuru Region where its support base, the Vokkaligas are in large numbers. By concentrating heavily on this belt, the JD(S) hopes to make the battle a triangular one.

The Old Mysuru Region is important for any party to bag a majority in the House. It has 61 seats and if the BJP fails, it will not be able to reach the 113 mark. If the Congress too fails, then the JD(S) would bag the required number of seats to play kingmaker once again in the state.

There are many personal battles too in this contest. The fight is between B S Yediyurappa, Siddaramaiah and H D Kumaraswamy and the outcome will determine who has come out supreme in this contest. The likes of Basavaraj Bommai and D K Shivakumar too are battling hard and the result would decide on how strong they cement their position in the party.

Karnataka votes on May 10 and the results would be declared on May. 13.