Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar with Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel and others throughout a press convention for the announcement of the schedule of Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections, in New Delhi on March 29, 2023.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Karnataka is headed for Assembly elections on May 10 at the same time as debates rage on allegations of corruption towards the ruling BJP, adjustments in the caste reservation matrix made on the fag finish of the federal government’s tenure and an undercurrent of communal narrative. Battle traces have been drawn between the BJP, Congress and Janata Dal (Secular), with the ruling dispensation trying to push again with its narrative of growth ushered in by what it calls “double engine sarkar.”
After almost 4 years of BJP rule helmed by two Chief Ministers (B.S. Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai) in the course of the interval, elections are being fought when growth and governance issues are more and more getting clouded by emotional issues drawn on caste and communal traces. Politicians throughout events have additionally acknowledged that caste and cash play a key position when ballots are solid. The Election Commission, whereas asserting election dates on Wednesday (March 29), additionally acknowledged the menace of cash and freebies forward of elections.
Reservation matrix, caste politics
The ruling BJP has in the previous couple of months elevated quantum of reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, culled out inside reservation among the many Scheduled Castes, created many caste-based companies, scrapped reservation for Muslims and enhanced reservation for the highly effective Vokkaliga and Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities.
The hurriedly redrawn reservation matrix has led to confusion and a menace of authorized battles. The challenge is more likely to resonate in the course of the election marketing campaign as Congress and JD(S) have opposed the brand new adjustments that have left Muslims out of OBC reservation quota. While BJP hopes to placate the SC (Left) class by way of inside reservation, the quota quantum has not glad them. Meanwhile, Banjara neighborhood is strongly opposing the very thought of inside reservation and has launched protests. The enhancement of reservation to SC/ST is being seen as an eyewash until it’s inserted in Schedule 9 of Constitution following parliament approval as the brand new quota breaches the 50% cap imposed by Supreme Court. This has been beneficial by the federal government to the Centre.
In its bid to woo communities, statues of icons of communities have been unveiled in the latest previous throughout Karnataka and people embody Kempegowda, the Vokkaliga icon, Shivaji Maharaj, the Maratha king, Basavanna and Kittur Rani Chennamma, the icons of Veerashaivas, and Sangolli Rayanna, the Kuruba icon.
Issues round communalism
Before the caste issues gained prominence, a slew of issues associated to communalism had hogged the limelight in Karnataka. The ban on cow slaughter, anti-conversion act, controversy round Muslim ladies sporting hijab in lecture rooms and opposition to utilizing loudspeaker for calling Azaan amongst others have stoked communal emotions and led to polarisation.
Congress hopes this may result in consolidation of Muslim votes in its favour, whereas JD(S) too is hoping to profit. BJP, on its half, has claimed credit score for banning “extremist” PFI, a Muslim organisation. A case associated to Hijab ban, which affected 1000’s of Muslims ladies forward of annual examinations final 12 months, is pending earlier than the Supreme Court.
More not too long ago, the Urigowda-Nanjegowda narrative has been propped by the BJP, by portraying these two characters as “brave soldiers” of the Vokkaliga neighborhood who killed the nineteenth century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan. The king, who died in a battle with the British, is constantly painted as “anti-Hindu” by the BJP. This was a part of the electoral agenda to collect Vokkaliga help, which has seen sturdy opposition by JD (S) and Congress.
Corruption vs. growth
Congress has constantly talked of “40% commission government” to focus on alleged rampant corruption in the federal government. It has additionally raised allegations of poor governance, poor administration throughout Covid-19 pandemic, recruitment scams and ‘”step motherly” remedy meted out to Karnataka by the Centre. Price rise and unemployment affecting livelihood too have been raised by the Congress.
The BJP has tried to counter them by projecting its developmental programmes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has been roped in to inaugurate mega infrastructure tasks in latest occasions to showcase the event agenda and speak of “double engine sarkar.”
Among the tasks Mr. Modi inaugurated embody Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, Shivamogga Airport, Terminal 2 of Bengaluru International Airport, laying the inspiration for Bengaluru suburban rail, flagging off Vande Bharat prepare between Mysuru and Chennai through Bengaluru, inauguration of the swanky Sir M. Visvesvaraya Railway Terminal at Baiyyappanhalli. The newest was the inauguration of the extremely anticipated Namma Metro line between Krishnarajapura and Whitefield.
Key issues not in debate
Meanwhile, a number of key issues — akin to implementing the long-pending Mahadayi venture and Krishna Water Tribunal 2 awards, essential tasks for North Karnataka moreover the Mekedatu venture throughout river Cauvery in the South — are virtually out of the public narrative now.
While the bigger issues panning out throughout the State present a peek into the electoral politics, finally the choose of candidate, cash energy and native issues might determine the winner, say political events.
