The tussle between two strong-willed Congress leaders in Karnataka has given the party a ‘big opportunity’. This big opportunity has been given in the form of not declaring the face of the Chief Minister. In fact, political analysts believe that the ongoing tussle between Congress’s Siddaramaiah and State President DK Shivakumar, when the face of the Chief Minister will not be declared, then the Congress can take advantage of it in the form of caste equations. At the same time, this time the BJP has also announced to contest the elections in the name of Basavaraj Bommai by not declaring the Chief Minister’s face, but the election is being discussed in the name of ‘Modi vs Congress’ in the political corridors of Karnataka. At present, this time the political equation is also being made on behalf of both the big parties in such a way that not declaring the name is proving to be a profitable deal for both the parties.
As the date of elections in Karnataka is getting closer, the politics is also heating up. Right from the selection and announcement of the candidates, the entire political game has been laid in Karnataka. But the surprising thing is that till now BJP to Congress has not declared the face of the Chief Minister. Political experts of Karnataka say that by not doing so both the parties are taking political mileage. Political analyst and senior journalist Sudarshan says that the question arises as to why the face of the Chief Minister is not being announced by both the parties. Arguing this, he says that by not declaring the name, the Congress is trying to prove itself as the strongest in Karnataka politics on the basis of caste equations. They argue that Congress state president DK Shivakumar comes from the Vokkaliga community. While party bigwig and former chief minister Siddaramaiah is an OBC face and belongs to the Korba community.
Sudarshan says that the news of tussle between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar keep coming to the fore. The supporters of both the leaders are also considering Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar as the contenders for the Chief Minister’s post. He says that this is the reason why by not declaring anyone’s name, the Congress wants to give the message of keeping not only Vokkaligas but also Korba community with the backward classes. Political experts say that not only this, with the help of Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, the party is also connecting the Dalits of Karnataka with itself. This is the reason why the Congress is not putting forward the name of any leader as the face of the Chief Minister, keeping the caste equations firmly in mind. Sudarshan says that if the Congress party contests elections in the political field by projecting any one face, then the risk of loss may be high. That is why the party is in the election season with its ideology without naming DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah and any other big leader.
Narendra Modi’s face is at the forefront
At the same time, the BJP has also started making its moves in a defensive manner this time. Political experts say that the party has not declared the chief minister’s face here like in other states. Political analyst S. Kiron says that it is a different matter that the party has put Siddaramaiah’s face forward and the election is being fought by keeping Modi’s name forward along with his name. Since the entire election is being held in the name of Modi, Narendra Modi is seen in the forefront in place of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in Karnataka. Political experts say that it is a big political strategy of the BJP not to declare anyone’s name as the face of the Chief Minister. Some logic is being given behind this. Political analysts believe that due to the internal dispute between the leaders and camps in Karnataka BJP, openly declaring the name of the Chief Minister may not be a deal of political profit.
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Apart from this, there are many political camps of BJP in Karnataka. Political analysts believe that if Yeddyurappa and Bommai are seen from a political point of view, Bommai’s stature is not that strong as compared to Yeddyurappa. Apart from this, many cabinet ministers of BJP are also considering themselves as the contenders for the chief ministership. Because all political parties including BJP have to write their victory script only with the votes of Vokkaliga and Lingayat community. Therefore no political party can sideline the Vokkaliga community or the Lingayats. Political analyst S. Kiran says that even though the BJP has not announced the chief ministerial face, it has made the Lingayat community simple by making Chief Minister Bommai the chairman of the election campaign committee. Whereas by making Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje in-charge of election management, the entire political board has been laid to help the Vokkaliga community. Political experts of Karnataka say that Congress and BJP have not declared the face of the Chief Minister openly, despite caste equations.
