Karnataka Elections 2023: The election battleground of the southern state is now migrating into another phase as EVMs lock the fate of hundreds of candidates, BJP’s challenge and the prospects of the Congress party. The voting to elect a fresh legislative assembly in Karnataka concluded on Wednesday with over 65 per cent voting, as per Election Commission data till 5 PM.
The run-up to the Karnataka polls witnessed massive campaigning, mega rallies and numerous public gatherings by political parties, especially the BJP and the Congress. While for the saffron party, the challenge is to retain its south citadel, the Congress seeks to occupy the state once again. As the voting ends and people gear up for the results on Saturday, May 13, here's a look at what all happened in the Karnataka assembly elections 2023.
Campaign In Numbers
Numbers at times speak more than what is said in words. The sheer number of rallies and roadshows in Karnataka depicts the importance of the southern state in Indian politics. Star campaigners of both the BJP and the Congress put in their entire energy to cover every inch of the state to woo as many voters as possible.
BJP's top national leaders — PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party national president JP Nadda — did a total of 44 roadshows and addressed 52 public gatherings in all in the state. This is apart from the four 'Vijay Sankalp Yatra' of the party that covered around 8,000-km distance across Karnataka, covering all 224 assembly constituencies in 20 days.
The Vijay Sankalp Rath Yatra in March saw around 75 public rallies and 150 roadshows by the BJP. In contrast, Congress bigwigs Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi managed a total of approximately 67 public meetings and 24 roadshows.
Interestingly, for both parties, their national president addressed the maximum number of public meetings. While Nadda addressed around 21 rallies, Kharge did massive 35 rallies.
Rahul Gandhi addressed 19 public meetings where Priyanka Gandhi, with 12, did most roadshows among all in her party.
What Took Centre Stage In Run-Up To Karnataka Election
Modi’s 'Congress Abuses Me' Barb
Prime Minister Narendra Modi came down heavily on rival Congress in each of his rallies and roadshows condemning the party's policies, promises and more. But the other thing that remained constant in his speeches was the issue of 'Congress abusing me' that he never missed to raise. The PM constantly lashed out at the grand old party for using 'derogatory' remarks against him. PM Modi attempted to drive the 'abuse' wave in his favour as he hit out at the Congress in one of his rallies and said that 'Congress's work is to abuse Lingayats, OBCs and Modi'. This was seen as his jibe at Rahul Gandhi too who was suspended as a Lok Sabha MP after being convicted for 'why all thieves have Modi surname' remark.
Kharge's 'Snake' Jibe, Son Priyank's ‘Nalayak Beta’ Comment
Slugfest became an inseparable part of the election campaigns in Karnataka this time. It started with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge calling PM a "poisonous snake" during his election speech in...... He said: "PM Modi is like a 'poisonous snake'. You may be wondering whether it’s poison or not. But if you lick it, you’re dead."
PM Modi, like always, didn't let the opportunity slip out of his hands to try and turn this in his favour as he repeatedly used Kharge's jibe to fuel the BJP's campaign against the Congress, which had the opinion polls giving a clear edge. Modi said snake is the jewel for Lord Shiva who wears it around his neck. Slamming the Congress, he said, "Their biggest issue in this election is comparing me to a snake."
Following the uproar, Kharge had to express regret for his comments and clarified that the remark was not on the PM but the ideology he follows. He said: "If my statement has hurt anyone, if it was misconstrued and distressed anyone, I will express special regret for it. We have ideological differences. RSS-BJP's ideology is poisonous. But they compared it to Prime Minister and claimed that I commented about him. It was never my intention to speak about any person or hurt anyone."
The BJP took strong objection to it. Later, Kharge's son Priyank Kharge called PM Modi a "worthless son (nalayak beta)". Subsequently, the BJP filed a complaint against him with the Election Commission.
BJP Leader’s ‘Vishkanya’ Remark For Sonia Gandhi
Reacting to Kharge’s “poisonous Modi” remark, BJP MLA Basanagouda Yatnal called former Congress president Sonia Gandhi a “vishkanya (venomous maiden)" while addressing a public meeting at Ron in Gadag district, which drew flak from the Congress as it demanded the legislator's dismissal.
Congress-BJP ‘Ad' War
In the days of digital media, the battle is equally fought online as much as it is planned and executed on the ground. Both the Congress and the BJP used the medium to attack each other on various fronts including recession, corruption, unemployment and development among others.
While BJP tried pulling down its rival by hitting out at their ‘empty’ promises, the Congress focused on inflation and corruption which, it alleges, has increased under BJP-led Karnataka government.
The Congress last week issued posts and advertisements targeting the ruling BJP on the issue of corruption. The party put up a "rate card" of alleged BJP corruption in Karnataka and advertised the same in local newspapers. Scaling up its attack on the ruling BJP, the Congress alleged that the Karnataka chief minister's post was up for grabs for Rs 2,500 crore and the rate of ministerial posts is Rs 500 crore each. The image also features figures for "Appointment and Transfer Rates", "Job Rates", and alleged commission for government deals.
"Kannadigas! Here is the corruption rate card of the 'TROUBLE ENGINE' 40% Sarkar," reads a tweet by the Congress party.
BJP complained to the EC over the ad, after which the Karnataka Congress was served with a notice for its "corruption rate card" advertisements in newspapers. The Election Commission requested Congress to present "empirical evidence" to back up its claims by Sunday evening.
The panel stated that it appears "prima facie" that Congress has "violated" a provision of the model code of conduct (MCC), the Representation of the People Act, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) by publishing the advertisement.
However, a day after the notice, Congress came out with another ‘ad’ attack. Kharge tweeted an ad-like poster with prices of commodities and mentioned the BJP government as a 'Trouble Engine' government.
Congress Moves EC, Seeks Ban On PM Modi’s Campaign
The Congress also approached the EC with a complaint against the BJP. The party sought action against PM Modi for his "Congress shielded terrorism for vote bank" remark and said he has crossed the "Lakshman Rekha". While taking strong objections to Modi's charge at a rally held in Ballary, Congress accused Modi of making "malicious and false" allegations to corrupt the atmosphere ahead of the elections.
Notably, during his address at an election rally in Karnataka, PM Modi said that for the sake of vote bank politics, Congress has nurtured, given shelter, and surrendered before terrorism.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also urged the EC to ban the PM from campaigning in the poll-bound state, saying that PM Modi sought vote on the basis of religion.
BJP Leader’s ‘Threat’ To Kharge And His Family
Amid all the blame-game, Congress accused BJP leaders of hatching a plot to murder party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and his entire family. Congress released a purported audio clip of a BJP candidate from Chittapur constituency, Manikant Rathod. He reportedly has over 40 criminal cases against him. In this viral audio, the BJP leader can be heard saying- "Will wipe off Kharge's family".
Lingayats Forum’s Call To Back Congress
Karnataka Veerashaiva Lingayat forum issued an official letter extending its support to Congress in the state assembly elections. The forum urged the members of the Lingayat community to vote for the party in the polls. Notably, both the BJP and the Congress are trying their best to secure votes from the Lingayat community, which constitutes around 17 per cent of the state’s population and is considered a vote bank of the BJP.
Congress’s 40% vs BJP’s 85% Charge
Corruption remained one of the biggest issues during the Karnataka election campaign. The Congress continued to attack the BJP for allegedly taking 40 percent commission in government projects so it can buy MLAs in Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and other states. In response, the BJP dug out a reference by former PM Rajiv Gandhi who once said out of every rupee spent by the government, only 15 paise reached the targetted beneficiary. Gandhi had made the remark during a visit to the drought-affected Kalahandi district of Odisha in 1985.
Recalling this, PM Modi said, “Karnataka cannot surrender its fate to Congress and JD(S) at any cost. The people of Karnataka also know how the palm of the Congress (a pun on the opposition party's election symbol of hand) loots 85 paise out of every rupee of the people's rights. The people of Karnataka have to remember that 85% commission is in the very nature and behaviour of the Congress.”
Congress's ‘Karnataka Sovereignty’ Remark
After a rally by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Hubbali, the Congress party tweeted: "CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: The Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka's reputation, sovereignty or integrity.” This drew flak from the BJP.
A BJP delegation met EC in Delhi asking the poll body to derecognise the Congress party for making ‘Karnataka’s sovereignty’ remark, alleging the party suggested ‘secession’. The BJP leaders said Sonia Gandhi heads the so-called ‘Tukde Tukde’ gang.
Muslim Reservation Row
Reservation in Karnataka came out as another big issue. CM Basavaraj Bommai's government on March 24 announced a slew of changes in Karnataka’s reservation arrangement. It scrapped the 4 per cent Muslim quota that was given to the community under category 2B, and distributed it equally among the Veerashaiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas communities.
However, the decision was challenged in the Supreme Court, which has asked the state government not to implement the changes till the case is sub judice.
Taking on Congress on the issue, Shah asked if it would slash the benefits of SCs, STs, Lingayats or Vokkaligas. He lashed out at the Congress following the removal of 4 per cent OBC reservation for Muslims in Karnataka and said that there is no provision in the Constitution for religion-based reservations.
Now, Congress has promised to bring back the reservation for the Muslims while BJP maintained that religion can never be a ground for reservation.
BJP's Uniform Civil Code, NandiniMilk Promises
The BJP promised Uniform Civil Code in the southern state and improved ‘ease of living’ of apartment dwellers by constituting the Karnataka Residents’ Welfare Consultative Committee to reform the Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act, 1972. The party also promised to provide three free cooking gas cylinders to all the families below poverty line (BPL), one each during the months of Yugadi, Ganesh Chaturthi and Deepavali.
It said it will also launch ‘Poshana’ scheme through which every BPL household will be provided with half-litre Nandini milk every day and five kilograms of Shri Anna - siri dhanya through monthly ration kits.
Congress Manifesto – 200 Units Of Free Electricity, Free Bus Travel For Women
Congress in its poll manifesto promised 200 units of free electricity and Rs 2,000 every month to each and every woman head of the family. The party also promised to provide allowances for unemployed youths, free travel for women in regular KSRTC/BMTC buses, development of SCs and STs, and a ban on Bajrang Dal and PFI. It also said that it will increase reservation from 15 per cent to 17 per cent for Scheduled Castes and from 3 per cent to 7 per cent for Scheduled Tribes.
The Congress also assured people to restore minority reservation of 4 per cent and increase reservations for Lingayats and Vokkaliggas and other communities and to pursue inclusion in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution. It also promised to repeal all "unjust" and "anti-people" laws passed by the BJP government within one year of coming to power.
Rahul Gandhi's Local Push With Scooty, Bus Ride
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a ride on a scooty with a delivery boy while he was in Karnataka for the election campaign. Rahul Gandhi was first seen interacting with a boy and then taking a photograph with him. Soon after, Gandhi took a helmet, sat on the scooty, and rode to his hotel for at least 2 kms.
In a similar act, Gandhi was seen travelling in a bus and interacting with college students and women in a Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus
Dragging Bajrang Bali Into Poll Campaign
The Congress party, while releasing its manifesto, promised it will ban outfits like PFI and Bajrang Dal, if voted to power. The opposition party said it was committed to taking firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred amongst communities on the grounds of caste and religion.
"We believe that law and Constitution is sacrosanct and cannot be violated by individuals and organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities. We will take decisive action as per law including imposing a ban on such organisations," it said.
The announcement was met with widespread protests by the members of the outfit as well as the BJP, which alleged that Congress is against Lord Bajrang Bali. Responding to it, Congress expressed displeasure over the comparison drawn between Bajrang Dal and Bajrang Bali by the BJP.
The people of Karnataka Wednesday voted for the 224-member Assembly, and the votes will be counted on May 13. A total of 3,632 candidates, with 707 from the incumbent BJP and 651 from the Congress and 1,720 Independents, besides a considerable number of JD(S) members, who looked to add a third corner to the largely bipolar contest, are in the fray. The verdict on Saturday will tell which issues worked and which party had the last laugh.