After the Modi wave swept the Uttar Pradesh and other key States, the BJP is now looking at Karnataka, the stronghold of the Congress. As part of the strategy the saffron party is looking at key Congress ruled-States to capture power.
According to the sources in the party, BJP President and party’s chief poll strategist Amit Shah’s priorities now would be to ensure a comfortable return to power in Gujarat and also wrest Karnataka, the southern and only big State still left with the Congress.
Karnataka which is going to polls in 2018 is crucial for both the ruling Congress and the BJP which has declared Congress Mukth Karnataka to oust the century old party from the State.
State BJP president and lingayat strongman BS Yeddyurappa is in the process of consolidation, ahead of the Assembly polls and many Congress leaders which include former Foreign Minister SM Krishna who has indicated that he would join the party soon. Apart from Krishna many leaders like Kumar Bangarappa, Jayaprakash Hegde and others have already joined BJP. Dalit leader V Srinivas Prasad has already in the party.
The two by-elections for the Assembly in Gundalpete and Nanjangud which is going to be held in April 9 is crucial for both the congress and the BJP. many political pundits feel tthe by elections would be indicator of the trend for the ensuing polls.
According to the BJP insiders its president Amit Shah has to manage few numbers in the Rajya Sabha and also concentrate on Karnataka which is going to polls in 2018. But Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is playing backward classes politics to the hilt and it is anticipated he would face anti incumbency as he has been hit by one or the other scams.
Yeddyurappa hopes that the results at UP and other States would repeat in Karnataka and the BJP is going to sweep the Assembly polls. The party is also anticipating an early election which probably will help them in fighting a three way contest against Congress and the JDS.
Union Minister HN Ananth Kumar said the outcome of Assembly polls in UP and other States might lead to a “Sonia-Rahul mukt Congress,” saying the two leaders have become a “liability” to the party.
“The way Rahul Gandhi got defeated, there may be a move towards Sonia-Rahul Gandhi mukt Congress. It will start in a big way. Rather than adding, they have become a big liability” said Kumar, adding the “countdown” had started.
Meanwhile, spurred by the spectacular victory in Assembly polls, BJP in Karnataka said the outcome would have a bearing on the State also where the party is hoping to come back to power in elections due early next year.
Asserting that the “Modi wave” was sweeping across the country, BJP State unit President BS Yeddyurappa said it would “naturally” have an impact on Karnataka too.
“We have received people’s support beyond our expectations. It is a victory for Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. It will naturally have an impact on Karnataka also,” Yeddyurappa, who is tipped to be projected as Chief Ministerial candidate in the State polls, said.
He said the Assembly elections in Karnataka could come anytime as the BJP is going all out to get the State rid of the Siddaramaiah Government which has been hit by a “string of scandals”.
“The results of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarkhand will pave the way for our party to come back to power with 150 (out of 224) seats,” Yeddyurappa, who headed the first ever BJP Government in the South but had to quit over charges of corruption, told reporters.
Maintaining that there was no “Modi wave”, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of having played the “Hindutva card” to win the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh while conceding there was anti-incumbency against the State Government.
“...polarisation of votes.... they played the Hindutva card very extensively...anti-incumbency (against Akhilesh Government) also played a role,” Siddaramaiah told reporters here. “However, we have to respect the people’s mandate.”
‘Siddaramaiah asked why the BJP did not win in Punjab if there was a “Modi wave” and added that the success of the “Hindutva card” was confined to Uttar Pradesh only.