Yes, first rain always cleanses the dirt and brings freshness. That’s what Congress is breathing today at Karnataka. Lot of debacles, internal disputes, no power-no resourcesans such other issues hindered age old party all along. When in Northern states, Congress was failing in its strategies, South India gave breathing support to it. But how it all happened and how a grand strategist failed, it’s for us to see.
Well, finding answers to both questions are equally important or both parties considering the General Election of 2024. Whether the Karnataka Model for election strategies is the right one for Congress going ahead? Sounds positive when you get simple but stable majority after a long year. That’s what one is witnessing on the faces of Congress leaders.
As veterans mentioned BJP is becoming like age-old Congress with ‘Ji Huzoor’ culture, while Congress is striving to redefine itself due to lack of power. When being out of power for longer days, the reinventing happens within. Whatever the proposal it may be, but people agreed and gave mandate. So now it’s the responsibility of the age-old party to deliver the promises with new horizon. Yes, Congress has not died, but it has taken rebirth in Karnataka.
While BJP which took voters for granted, now are feeling the turmoil within. Even party stalwarts can’t save their face if one does not listen to the people. BJP was built through trust and development, both of which were missing in the campaign. They relies on star campaigners, who tirelessly helped to increase the voting percentage. However, this debacle will be a learning lesson for a national party wherein they need to understand the requirement of able regional leaders acceptable by all to help the party in the long run.
JD (S) which aimed at playing the kingpin’s role was relegated to the third place in this election. People are fed-up with family-run party who altered the post result politics of the state for 20 years. This too should be an alarming sign for Congress to include inclusiveness in daily administration, which can come handy during coming general election.
15 stalwart candidates of sitting government, most of them who projected themselves as CM candidates were thrown away by the people whereas as candidates like Arun Puthila showed the cadre-based party that karyakarthas can decide the fate of any leader.
60% people have given mandate to Congress believing that they can revive and deliver the best. This means people want change. Coastal Karnataka is the only exceptional region which has reassured it’s faith in BJP whereas all other regions wanted absolute change this time. Kittur Karnataka which has 50 seats of which 32 seats went to Congress, in Kalyana Karnataka Congress bagged 25 seats out of 41 seats. Central Karnataka elected Congress in 20 out of 25 constituencies, while Old Mysuru voted for Congress in 37 out of 57 seats. Out of 32 constituencies of Bengaluru region Congress took equal share with BJP and thus BJP stared at loss in its only southern state.
People voted for stable government and they chose Congress over BJP instead of JD (S), and its clear sign that common people prioritise means for daily living than other matters which BJP never focused these days, while Congress cashed on it. And now, hope that Congress will deliver the dreams of crores of people without any room for star-wars within the party. Remember, you people did not vote them to do that!