Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in New Delhi on May 14, 2023. Photo Credit: ANI
TeaThe rainbow coalition stitched by the Congress has been the key to the party’s resounding victory. While 70% of Muslims voted for the Congress, the party also received substantial support from various castes except the upper castes and Lingayats. Among Lingayats, 56% voted for the BJP and 29% voted for the Congress. There was no significant shift in Lingayat votes away from the BJP, although Jagadish Shettar, a prominent Lingayat leader of the BJP, left the party and joined the Congress. Mr. Shettar was defeated in the Hubballi-Dharward Central assembly constituency, which further indicates that he was unable to mobilize the Lingayat votes in favor of the Congress. The BJP also gained a huge lead over the Congress among the upper caste voters. The OBC vote remained divided between the Congress (34%) and the BJP (37%).
the Kuruba community, to which Congress leader Siddaramaiah belongs; the Dalit community, from which Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge comes; And the tribals voted for the Congress in large numbers. The Congress had gained an edge over its rivals among these communities in previous elections as well, but this election saw a decisive shift in the party’s favour. The shift among Vokkaliga voters away from JD(S) explains why JD(S) fared poorly this time. It also failed to retain the support of the Muslims. These two communities were the backbone of JD(S)’s support base in Karnataka, especially in southern Karnataka, which has 51 assembly seats. Of these, in 2018, JD(S) won 24 seats and polled 37.5%. But in 2023 its vote share has come down to 29.5%.
2023 Karnataka Assembly Elections | Lokniti-CSDS Postpoll Study
Karnataka’s electorate is clearly divided on caste-community lines, with the traditional Brahmin-Lingayat combination behind the BJP and the rest behind the Congress – a repeat of the Ahinda (minority) social coalition.
Sanjay Kumar is Professor and Co-Director of Lokniti-CSDS