- The effectiveness and unrelenting operation of the BJP’s election machinery are well known to those who closely monitor and follow the political churnings inside the Indian landscape. Since the BJP came into power at the center of government in 2014, its electoral machinery has moved forward regardless of victory or defeat without ever pausing. Without a doubt, it is a commendable quality to see the BJP leadership place such a strong focus on maintaining vigilance despite experiencing both highs and lows in equal proportion. Noting how the BJP used pro-incumbency as a contrast to anti-incumbency, the party demonstrated how narratives may be juxtaposed to achieve success. The BJP leadership has also made mistakes on occasion. The outcome in Karnataka is one example.
PC: Jagadeesh NV
- We are aware of how the entire country was riveted by the results of the election in Karnataka. Yeah, Karnataka was the only state in South India where the BJP was present. Even though the BJP is doing everything it can to scale the daunting walls of the southern states, it has only been successful in Karnataka. To persuade the people to grant them yet another term, the ruling dispensation in Karnataka, ably assisted by the central BP leadership, had to expend a lot of resources. Nonetheless, the BJP was forced to lose to Congress embarrassingly due to several factors, including anti-incumbency, rising prices, a lack of jobs and employment possibilities, widespread corruption, caste issues, and the failure to pick the appropriate candidates.
- Remember that the polls in Karnataka were billed as one of the quarterfinals before the general election set for May 2024? Moreover, significant assembly elections are slated to be held this year in Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. As a result, every state election going forward will be of utmost importance for developing both the narrative for the parliamentary election and the public’s opinion of the BJP-led government. Recall that throughout the past few years, the Grand Old Party seemed to be on the receiving end, faring poorly in the hustings. Luckily, the overwhelming majority in Karnataka will undoubtedly give the Congress’ stuttering campaign a fresh start right now.
PC: Livemint
- The BJP’s senior brass will be concerned and anxious to put the disheartening defeat behind them to focus on the subsequent battles to prepare for the general elections. It is insufficient to merely highlight the Hindutva agenda and divisive ideologies. These factors will only have decreasing returns. The BJP may greatly improve its election apparatus by placing a lot of attention on containing the price increase, creating jobs and employment possibilities, developing clever welfare packages targeted at delivering assistance to all societal strata, and developing a positive narrative. The Karnataka election results must therefore serve as a wake-up call for the Saffron Party to review its plans for dealing with a resurgent Congress in the coming months.
