Bagalakote: With the state’s main political parties vying for power, it remains to be seen whether an independent or coalition government will emerge victorious. While the JD (S) lacks the majority to rule alone and hopes to form a coalition government, the Congress is confident of a clear majority, and the BJP is poised to make a comeback with a new strategy.
However, unlike in North India, politics in South India are not straightforward, often involving overnight calculations and alliances. The BJP is playing its cards carefully, establishing direct contact with their close MLAs to avoid losing current and former MLAs to other parties. This is part of the BJP’s strategy for a potential coalition government with the JD (S) in the event of an accidental majority failure. It remains to be seen whether the JD (S) will agree for an alliance with the BJP.
But all these calculations are expected to be mostly decided based on ticket allocation.
The BJP’s Core Committee is currently holding meetings with the District Core Committee team to ensure the party’s success in the state elections, which are seen as a guide for the next Lok Sabha elections.
The party is targeting 16 districts of four divisions, including Tumakuru, Dharawad, Belagavi and Ballari, and is engaging in centralised calculations to win back power.
Congress needs to win at least 112-120 seats to come to power, while the BJP only needs 95-100 seats. If the JD (S) wins 40 seats, Kumaranna will become the Chief Minister. Despite never having a full majority, both the BJP and JD (S) have formed the government the most times in the last 19 years without a people’s mandate.