Shift in strategy? Congress to cut down on tickets to Muslim candidates

Congress is going to field candidates from minority communities only in those constituencies where they stand a better chance of winning. The move is seen as a major shift in its poll strategy based on 'winnability'.

As the Karnataka Assembly election draws closer, the opposition Congress seems to be refashioning its strategy to take on the ruling BJP. As it appears, Congress is set to cut down on giving tickets to candidates from minority communities, although it is confident that Muslims will consolidate in its favour even as BJP is working hard to corner all the majority Hindu votes.

Congress, which always plays only lip service to 'secularism', is now caught in a dilemma over banking on the Muslim community alone. With nearly 10 percent of Karnataka's population, Muslims can propel Congress to victory in the state. Why this change in strategy then?

The grand old party is eyeing to field candidates from minority communities only in those constituencies where they stand a better chance of winning. The move is seen as a major shift in Congress poll strategy as the party had given tickets to members from minority communities, prioritising its social justice credentials over the 'winnability' factor.

In the 2018 Karnataka elections, Congress had fielded as many as 17 candidates from minority communities. But only seven candidates managed to win the elections. Considering the winnability factor, Congress is likely to come down to 13 or at the most 15 in the upcoming elections.

Changing tack

This time, Congress is mulling to field non-minority candidates from Shiggaon, Hubballi-Dharwad West, Ramanagara, Vijayapura City and Mangaluru North and South seats as its plan to capitalise on the sizeable Muslim voters in these constituencies has failed to yield results since 2000.

For example, in Shiggaon, which has around 30% Muslim population, the Congress has been unsuccessfully fielding Ajjampeer Khadri since 2004. Since the Congress has failed to win the last four elections, the party is going ahead with the idea of fielding a Panchamasali Lingayat or Kuruba candidate there this time.

As per reports, Congress has asked former minister Vinay Kulkarni, a Panchamasali Lingayat, to contest from Shiggaon and hope to take advantage of the perceived anger of the community against Bommai over their demand for reservation under the 2A category.

Wooing Lingayats

On the other hand, Congress is trying to woo Lingayats in the absence of community strongman and former CM B.S. Yediyurappa. Lingayats make for almost 18% of Karnataka population and have traditionally been BJP's vote bank, with BJP veteran Yediyurappa commanding support across the sects of the community.

Congress lost its influence over Lingayat community after Rajiv Gandhi sacked then CM Veerendra Patil unceremoniously more than three decades ago. However, Congress now feels that it's the right time to make amends and attempt a reconciliation when Yediyurappa is retiring.