Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has taken everybody unexpectedly by reaching out to the Lingayat group in an unprecedented method forward of the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka. However, the query in political circles typically requested is, whether or not he’ll be capable to tilt the Lingayat vote financial institution in direction of the Congress and produce it to energy? Why a lot of emphasis is laid on his outreach? Why is the BJP stung by his outreach and prices by Lingayat leaders former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi? Why is Union Home Minister Amit Shah, different nationwide leaders Smriti Irani, Dharmendra Pradhan reaching out to even cities to make sure the BJP sails via these polls?
Speaking to IANS, B. Samilulla, a senior journalist and political analyst, defined that it’s all about getting a 5 per cent vote swing for the Congress in Karnataka. “In the last Assembly elections, Congress got a 38 per cent vote share. Although the BJP got 36 per cent of votes, it emerged as the single largest party by winning more seats. The JD (S) had got 18 per cent of votes. The national parties which create a new vote bank are going to win. “The approximate swing the Congress is is 5 per cent of votes. For that, the celebration should get new votes.
“With developments surrounding the exit of Lingayat leaders from the BJP, Congress is expecting a swing of 3 per cent of Lingayat votes and 2 per cent of Vokkaligas votes. If Congress manages this, it will have a simple majority,” he advised IANS. Knowing this effectively, Rahul Gandhi`s go to to Kudala Sangama, the place the samadhi of the twelfth century reformer Basavanna is situated, is deliberate. Shettar had began voicing out that Lingayats are snubbed in BJP on the identical time and his go to assumes significance on this backdrop. Rahul Gandhi`s scathing assaults on the BJP and claims that its ideologies have been simply reverse to Basavanna are geared toward attaining a the 5 per cent vote swing to Congress, in response to celebration sources.
Congress insiders have additionally mentioned that the Union Home Minister, BJP National President J.P. Nadda and different Central leaders are reaching out folks in cities within the corners of the state to forestall the Congress from having the additional vote swing. The saffron celebration is concentrating on Shettar and forcing him to deal with his constituency can also be for a similar cause. Samiulla additional defined that the BJP is dealing with an anti-incumbency wave and the caste issue gained`t work out in its favour. Suryamukund Raj, Congress Legal Cell Secretary, advised IANS that the outreach efforts by Rahul Gandhi will pull progressive folks within the Lingayat group in direction of Congress. The group by and enormous is with former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa until now, however the 5 per cent vote swing might be achieved within the state simply, Raj notes. “More than 20 seats in the last Assembly elections were lost by a margin of 2,500 to 3,000 votes, especially in the Kalyana Karnataka region. This time, Congress candidates will emerge victorious. Mining baron turned politician Janardhana Reddy`s factor will also work against BJP,” he added.
