New Delhi [India] May 13 (ANI): The Congress scored an emphatic victory in Karnataka in an important election with the robust efficiency giving it momentum to tackle the BJP within the meeting polls later this 12 months and giving a lift to its preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The victory is important for Congress for the margin of its success and the coherence of its efforts. The Congress ran an efficient marketing campaign constructed round its “five guarantees” and sought to maintain the concentrate on native points and “failings” of the BJP authorities within the southern state. The Karnataka victory has a number of classes for the Congress in its battles forward, with “collective fight” and “strong state leadership” among the many components that labored for the get together.
The get together received 136 seats and its efficiency was higher than its tally within the 1999 election when it had received 132 seats and the 2013 polls when it received 122 seats. The Congress received 42. 9 per cent votes, amongst its highest within the state. It can also be the very best vote share by any get together within the final 34 years which lowered the BJP to 65 seats.Â
With Opposition events exploring a united entrance towards the BJP within the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress will search to emerge as a pivot of such efforts. The victory may also assist Congress counter criticism that it principally loses in a direct combat with the BJP.
Having ousted the BJP from the one state in southern India, the get together is anticipated to make use of it as a software to focus on the ruling get together on the Centre. Party leaders are already hitting again at BJP with a jibe of “BJP-mukt south India”. Congress’ subsequent problem is meeting polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana later this 12 months and in three of those states, it has BJP as its major rival.
The Congress may also hope that BJP’s poor efficiency in Karnataka will adversely impression its prospects in Telangana the place the ruling get together on the Centre was in search of to emerge as a major participant.
Also Read:Â 13 BJP Ministers Who Lost Karnataka Assembly Elections
The BJP authorities in Karnataka confronted anti-incumbency and the bottom was ripe for Congress victory. The get together benefitted from the presence of robust state leaders in former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hails from Karnataka and it was a status battle for him. He is seen to have swayed voters, particularly a sizeable part of Dalit voters, in favour of Congress. The Congress additionally matched BJP jibe for jibe because the BJP put up a robust marketing campaign led by its nationwide leaders, together with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
In Himachal Pradesh, too, the Congress constructed its marketing campaign on native points with its promise of the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme proving to be a serious draw.
Congress leaders stated that the individuals of Karnataka had rejected BJP leaders’ makes an attempt to “polarise” the election. The BJP ran a high-pitched marketing campaign and the Congress’ point out of a potential ban on Bajrang Dal in its manifesto was raised extensively by BJP leaders by means of ‘Jai Bajrang Bali’ chants and slogans.
Janata Dal-Secular suffered a heavy blow within the polls and the Congress seemingly benefitted from the consolidation of Muslim votes and a few shift of Vokkaliga neighborhood votes from the regional get together. There was some obvious shift in Lingayat neighborhood votes from the BJP after some senior leaders joined the Congress forward of elections over the denial of tickets.
Congress management in Karnataka was a rainbow of varied communities together with Kurba, Vokkaliga and Dalits. The ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi additionally helped the Congress strengthen join with individuals months forward of polls.
Party chief Randeep Surjewala, who’s AICC incharge of Karnataka, stated the Congress received virtually 85 per cent of the seats that Gandhi visited throughout his yatra. Rahul Gandhi was within the state for over 20 days in September-October final 12 months. Karnataka has an extended reference to the Nehru-Gandhi household and has been a “comeback territory” up to now.
Indira Gandhi made a political comeback from Chikmagalur in Karnataka in a bypoll in 1978. Sonia Gandhi additionally fought from Ballari within the state in her debut election wherein she was additionally within the fray from Amethi. The Congress’ massive problem is the 2024 battle and BJP has swept polls in states the place the Congress had been in energy.
Having suffered a string of losses after the 2019 Lok Sabha debacle, the get together leaders are hopeful that the emphatic victory in Karnataka and the success in Himachal Pradesh earlier this 12 months will pave the way in which for related successes in state polls later this 12 months.
