Sir — This refers to the editorial, “A lot at stake” (March 29). With the Election Commission announcing the dates for the polls, the political stage in Karnataka is set for a high-voltage election. With the lingayat issue being served fresh to the public, the communal question is likely to remain high on the agenda of political parties. The battle would be a three-cornered fight between the Congress, the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular). While the BJP would look to regain its southern citadel, the Congress expects Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to retain the only big State it is in power. locally pundits believe Kumaraswamy’s party, JDS is likely to play the kingmaker.
The Congress is playing the sub-nationalist card. Portraying the BJP as a party that seeks to impose Hindi and north Indian ethos, Siddaramaiah has aggressively promoted Kannada and even unveiled a State flag. The Congress, in order to divide the BJP’s lingayat support base, has also decided to give it minority status. How this plays out will be the key.
On the other hand, the BJP has decided to rely on Hindu consolidation, particularly in the coastal belt, and decried the Congress for seeking to divide the community.
The party which gets the combination of personality, identity and development right and is able to tell a better story to the people of Karnataka will win this critical battleground State.