Karnataka bypoll results have come as a warning to BJP, Congress and JD(S).
The results of the recently concluded bypolls to the two assembly seats in Karnataka have exposed the flaws in the BJP’s armor and show what the major opposition parties, the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) are facing, ahead of the assembly elections in 2023. There are challenges. Notably, the new Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai suffered a setback as the BJP lost the Hangal seat located in his home district of Haveri.
Due to the death of MLAs in these areas, by-elections were held in Hangal and Sindgi assembly constituencies. While Hangal was represented by CM Udasi, a senior leader close to former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, the Sindgi seat was held by the JD(S).
a mixed bag
The BJP, which is in the process of forming a second line of leadership in Karnataka, had decided not to give tickets to Udasi’s family members, with Mr Yeddyurappa as chief minister with his own hero, Mr Bommai. This was seen in political circles as an attempt by the BJP to loosen the hold of the Yeddyurappa camp on the party. In a balancing act, the party fielded a supporter of Mr Yediyurappa from Hangal. The by-elections, though numerically insignificant, saw a high-decibel campaign with the chief minister himself leading from the front along with a battalion of his ministerial colleagues. Mr Yediyurappa and his son BY Vijayendra, who are keen to enter politics, also campaigned in both the constituencies.
But the results were mixed: the BJP lost Hangal to Congress candidate Srinivas Mane, while it managed to win Sindhi by a large margin to the JD(S). While a loss in one seat may by no means indicate a mandate in the next assembly elections, the ruling BJP and the chief minister are worried as Hangal’s results indicated that the party will have to take delicate steps to ensure that the party is elected. The supporters of Mr. Yediyurappa, who have a great influence on the core community of Lingayats, wholeheartedly support the party. Some leaders have also said that Hangal’s results may point to the potential impact the BJP’s radical Hindutva politics could have on voters comprising a large number of minorities, other backward classes and Dalits. . Mr Bommai, on his part, has said that he and the party will introspect on the reasons for the defeat and take corrective measures. He also admitted that the Congress candidate in Hangal “earned the goodwill” of the people of the constituency by helping them during the pandemic. BJP national general secretary and state in-charge Arun Singh is visiting Karnataka to analyze the reasons for the defeat and incorporate the lessons from these by-polls into the party’s strategy for 2023.
lesson for the opposition
These results have certainly boosted the morale of the Congress that won the Hangal. However, the party is not devoid of problems as its strategy of importing a candidate from the rival JD(S) camp in Sindhi backfired. Admitting this, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah has said that there was lack of coordination in the party as the candidate had entered recently.
For the JD(S), whose candidates lost both their seats, the bypolls have shown a steady decline in its vote share due to the absence of a firm political stand and strategies by its leaders. The party’s efforts to expand the base beyond the old Mysore region of South Karnataka did not receive a positive response from the people as its tally has now come down to five seats in North Karnataka.
The bypolls have come as a warning ahead of the 2023 elections and the three political parties are expected to re-work their strategies.
satishkumar.bs@thehindu.co.in
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