Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Congress-JD(S) success in Karnataka’s by-polls' that was published in Newsband

Congress-JD(S) success in Karnataka’s by-polls

The Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) has won two of the three Lok Sabha constituencies and both the Assembly seats for which byelections were held in Karnataka. The Bharatiya Janata Party thinks of Karnataka as its gateway to the south. But BJP got defeated in its stronghold of Ballari by around two lakh votes. This raises questions about the BJP’s prospects in the State in the 2019 general election. Even in Shivamogga, the lone constituency bagged by the BJP, the victory was somewhat narrow. The JD(S) won comfortably in the Mandya parliamentary and Ramanagara Assembly seats.

Having tasted success, the Congress-JD(S) tie-up could strengthen as they prepare for 2019. The Congress party has been losing State after State since 2014, winning only in Punjab and managing to share power with the JD(S) in Karnataka in a post-election arrangement.

But bypolls are not firm indicators of what will happen in a State Assembly or general election. The Congress victories, by huge margins in Alwar and Ajmer in Rajasthan and now in Karnataka, will infuse a lot of confidence in the party.

Remember that high speed soaring brings the fall at proportion to the speed of rise. Once INC was ruling most states and it gradually degenerated and consequently disintegrated. In heat of popularity, the INC party forgot to integrated and strengthen the local elements that led to coming up of several regional parties. No doubt, the same fate of BJP appears to be written large. The BJP has failed to focus on the local aspirants.

Bye elections are no indications of 2019. People are wise to select their PM. Congress needs a leader who is not a loose talker and more interested in sudden trips abroad destination unknown. His abusive language against Modi will not be swallowed easily by the people. Let not Congress daydream

Also remember that Karnataka does not have anything to do with the North of the Vindhya Hindi belt concept of Ram or other North Indian emotions. Local Leaders of both Congress and JD(S) are men/women with local roots and capable, with good connect with locals. The Policies of the BJP (Demonetization, GST, Hindi compulsion etc) have created tremendous problems, and North Indian leaders (including Modi) had no answers, nor any connect locally. As usual, People look for change, when frustrated. These factors have tilted the voting pattern and BJP is the obvious loser. If, however, Congress wishes to take on BJP, they need to find/select a competent leader (not Rahul Gandhi) to take on Modi, who still has enough strength. As things stand, Congress is extremely week, without a strong/capable Leader.

The Dangers of coalition party in running government is very much evident in Karnataka. Hence the Congress would be foolish to repeat the same at the centre. The Congress can rather wait for the next Loksabha elections in 2024 instead of being in a hurry to remove PM Modi.

Also, time has come for NDA Government to do self-introspection on the historical defeat in Bellary and to take total stock of the situation failing which facing decimation in Parliament election cannot be prevented with opposition coming from all corners.