Page 41 - Tehelka Issue 8&9

OpiniOn

Karnataka polls set to be

biggest slugfest of the year

After wresting power in a dozen and a half states from Congress
Spotlight and other opposition parties, there is one citadel that the BJP
would be keen to overrun and that is this state of southern India
Vipin pubby
ithout taking any the State Minority Commission, sent
credit away from a communication to the Ministry of
the BJP, it must be Home Affairs on seeking recognition of
Former resident editor pointed out that Lingayats and Veerashaivas, who follow
of the Indian express, there was only one Basavanna’s teachings, as a religious
Vipin Pubby is a senior W state, Gujarat, where minority under section 2(c) of the
journalist based in it had retained power since 2014. All National Commission of Minorities Act,
Chandigarh. He can other states were under opposition rule. 1992. Lingayats, considered a Hindu sect
be contacted at Congress, on the other hand, has lost all because they share several beliefs as-
vipinpubby@gmail. except Punjab where the credit must go sociated with Hindu religion, have been
com. The views to chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh demanding a minority status as they
expressed are personal for his personal aura and acceptability. don’t accept the concepts of the Vedas, ally the entire north, west and east but • Political devotion Congress chief Rahul
Now, all eyes are on Karnataka for the caste system and the Hindu beliefs has been so far unable to make a dent Siddaramaiah has Gandhi is taking rounds of mutts and temples
two major reasons: One is of course of reincarnation and karma. The grant in the southern states. It had formed a touched the raw across the state to prove his respect for religion
the fate of the Congress party and its of minority status goes against the Hin- government in Karnataka in 2008 with nerve of the BJP
central leadership. Though the party has dutva agenda of the BJP which believes the help of independents. It would like analysts estimate that the party has
declared Siddaramaiah as its chief min- in consolidation of the Hindu society. It to establish its own government to pave by taking up the good chances of winning 30 to 40 seats.
isterial candidate and has supposedly also feels that if Lingayats are given the way for power in the other southern The party has also received a boost with
given him a free hand, the central lead- status of a minority, several others like states which together accounts for 131 demand of minority the Muslim community leader Asaud-
ership of the party is also interfering in the Arya Samaj, Radha Swami, Vaish- Lok Sabha seats. status for the din Owaisi lending support to the JD (S).
the distribution of tickets. Second, and nava and other sects of the Hinduism The BJP had done exceedingly well Owaisi said his All India Majlis-e-
more important, is that the outcome in which do not believe in typical Brah- in 2014 Lok Sabha elections winning Lingayat community, Ittehadul Muslimeen will not be in the
the state would lay down the contours minical Hinduism, would also demand 17 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats from the who constitute 17% fray in the poll-bound state and that he
of the 2019 General Elections. For the minority status. That would be a body state and cornering 43.37 per cent of himself will address public meetings of
BJP battling anti-incumbency at the blow to the Hindu consolidation agenda the vote share. It had managed to score of the total voters the JD(S) in case the need arises. Assert-
Centre and getting cornered over sev- of the BJP and the RSS. more votes in 132 of the 224 Assembly ing that both BJP and Congress have
eral issues, a victory in Karnataka would Congress is also trying to strengthen segments which was much ahead of failed the people of the state, he said
give it the breather it sorely needs. its own “Hindutva agenda” to counter the half way figure of 113 seats needed votes in any elections in the state. on Twitter : “We want a non-Congress
No wonder the two main rivals are the BJP propaganda. Party chief Rahul to win Assembly elections. A crucial factor behind the final and non-BJP govt in Karnataka for a
going to extraordinary lengths to win Gandhi has been taking rounds of mutts It can also take heart from the fact outcome would be the impact of ticket qualitative development. MIM will not
in Karnataka. Siddaramaiah, an astute and temples across the state to prove his that the state has not returned the rul- distribution. The Congress has denied be fielding any candidates I will address
politician, has touched the raw nerve respect for religion. He would be putting ing party to power since 1985. Wresting tickets to at least 11 sitting legislators. public meetings support of JD(S) if
of the BJP by taking up the demand of in a little more efforts than he did in power in Karnataka would be a big This may lead to rebellion in some of there is a need.”
minority status for the Lingayat com- Gujarat to ensure that his party retains morale booster for the BJP ahead of the the constituencies. The BJP has includ- This is likely to further strengthen
munity. Lingayats, who constitute 17 per power in the state. Though the Congress Assembly elections in the major states ed over 20 candidates who are facing the party and given the fact that the
cent of the voters are known to be BJP had lost the elections in Gujarat, it was like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh criminal and civil charges. The actual main rivals appear to be evenly poised
supporters. With the ball in the Centre’s able to give a scare to the ruling BJP held by it. impact of these decisions would be felt and if they fail to get absolute majority
court, as only the central government and was close to staging an upset in the But it shall have to keep in mind that a couple of days before the polling. it may turn out to be the king maker.
can grant such a status, the BJP is in a home state of prime minister Narendra even the Congress had not fared too The two main rivals appear to be An exciting contest is on the cards
quandary. Lingayats are an important Modi and party chief Amit Shah. badly as far as vote percentage in 2014 evenly poised and that’s where the but one can only hope that the political
factor in about 100 of the 232 Assembly For the BJP, another factor that is very was concerned. It had bagged 41.15 per role of Janata Dal (S) would be crucial. discourse remains within the realms of
constituencies in the state. important in Karnataka is that the state cent of vote share although it won only The party, with former prime minister decency and away from communalism.
The Siddaramaiah Government, is the gateway to its ambitions in the nine seats. The party also has a record H D Deve Gowda as its patriarch, has
accepting the recommendations of South. The party has ‘conquered’ virtu- of never bagging less than 35 per cent significant areas of influence. Political letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 may 2018 40 www.Tehelka.com Tehelka / 15 may 2018 41 www.Tehelka.com

40-41 Opinion Vipin Pubby.indd 2-3 02/05/18 5:39 PM