Analysis | Karnataka Assembly polls will be key to Congress revival before 2024 Lok Sabha elections Premium
The Hindu
The Congress faces the challenge of keeping at bay the intense factionalism between the Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar camps
The upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections will be crucial for the Congress to not only reverse its fortunes after the recent setback in the Northeast elections but also to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) later this year in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
Apart from being a morale booster, a win could give the party much-needed elbow room to position itself as the main player to lead a coalition against the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
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And since Karnataka is the home State of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, the BJP is likely to make it a prestige battle to retain the State.
While the BJP has been engaging with former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa to reach out to the powerful Lingayat community that makes up about 17% of the electorate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lead the party’s campaign in terms of showing development work.
“The BJP seems to be oscillating between insulting and adopting Mr. Yediyurappa, unable to decide if they want to relegate him to the dustbin of history on account of unprecedented corruption as well as hostility towards him by the Prime Minister,” said Randeep Surjewala, the Congress general secretary for Karnataka.
“The manner in which the BJP has insulted Panchamasali lingayats has unnerved the community and put them on a warpath,” claims Mr. Surjewala who added that the Congress would give “substantial representation” to the community while giving away tickets.