Karnataka Votes On May 10: Hung Assembly Predicted
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2023-05-09 11:48:22
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Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
View all posts by this Author
The people of Karnataka are all set to vote tomorrow (May 10) to elect a new assembly. While it is extremely difficult to make predictions regarding the result, it will be safe to say that all indications are that the state will return a hung assembly. Until about two weeks ago, the Congress has its nose in front in the fight with the BJP and the JD(S). It then seemed that the party will get the highest number of seats closely followed by the BJP with the JD(S) trailing far behind but still nursing hopes of playing the kingmaker.
Then, three things happened which altered the course somewhat. First, the Congress started vile personal attack on Prime Minister Modi. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called him a 'venomous snake' and not to be left behind, his son called the Prime Minister 'nalayak'. Undeterred by the fact that personal attacks on the Prime Minister have boomeranged in the past, Congressmen continue to repeat the mistake and cause embarrassment and loss of votes for the party. Later, the Congress said in its manifesto that it would ban organizations like the Bajrang Dal if they created problems in the state. The BJP seized on it to consolidate Hindu votes and all leaders, including Prime Minister Modi began and ended their speeches with either "Bajrangbali ki Jai" or "Jai Bajrangbali" to rub salt in Congress' wounds.
Then, in an extraordinary show of its famed election machinery and star power, the BJP unleashed a fortnight-long blitzkrieg of campaigning which included visits by all bigwigs including Prime Minister Modi and home minister Amit Shah, among others. Modi held 20 huge rallies in several districts and a massive two-day road show in Bengaluru to stamp his imprint on the campaign. Observers say this tilted the scale in the favour of the BJP.
It remains to be seen whether the above three things will make the BJP breast the tape and return to power. If it does, it will be the first incumbent to do so in nearly four decades. Meanwhile, the JD(S) has been quietly conducting a campaign based on local issues and finding favour in its strongholds, some of which have been snared by the BJP. It still hopes to get a sizeable number of seats to play kingmaker. Overall, the campaigning was acrimonious and the results are important for both the BJP and the Congress. If it wins, it will be a strong step for the BJP in its effort to capture the south. If Congress wins in a state it has traditionally been strong, it will show that the party is down but not out, will raise its stock and give it more say in any efforts for opposition unity.
