Postmortem: Congress Dug its Own Grave in Karnataka
Special Political Correspondent
Mangalore, May 26: Finally Karnataka is set to be ruled by a single largest party, without having to compromise with a 20-20 or 50-50 formula. BJP is all ready to form its very first government in South India and this could well pave the way for the saffron party for establishing its strong base in the other southern states.
Though BJP's well-planned and charismatic one-man leadership is responsible for its success in Karnataka, Congress has to blame its own people rather than blaming JDS for split of secular votes and 'Hindutva' policies of BJP.
Look at the top leaders of Karnataka Congress. Mallikarjuna Kharge, one of the chief ministrial aspirants, does not even have a sound voice to address the public or media. He may have good ideas, but if he cannot be a good orator or speaker, then how can he possibly attract the attention of the public? He, being the chief of Karnataka Congress, is the first person responsible for the down-fall of Congress.
Kharge, Krishna, Singh, Sidda and Poojary
The other aspirant, one-and-a-half quintal Dharam Singh learnt the lesson of his life by tasting his first defeat after nine consecutive wins from his constiuency Jevargi. People taught him a lesson for doing nothing for the people except gaining weight for himslef. A man without any charishma, who cannot even walk properly, how can attract young voters of the state?. He is second person responsible for the Congress' defeat in the state.
S M Krishna, who was living a royal life as Maharashtra governor until the election was declared, came back to his home state with a half mind. His body language was indicating that he was not interested in sweating-out by doing the hardwork of walking and talking to the people. Though he is a good orator and a crowd puller, Congress failed to project him as CM candidate fearing the 'split' within the party. This fear proved too costly for the party and finally ended with crushing defeat. Krishna may be given another Governor position or cabinet slot at the centre, but he did not benefit the party in any way at the state level. Now he should be happy to go back to his AC rooms. He is culprit No 3 responsible for Congress defeat.
Siddharamaiah, though a reputed leader, and extremly popular among Kuruba and backward communities around the state, has the shortcoming of being an 'outsider', because of his migration from JDS followed by the rift with the Gowdas. He could have been projected as CM candidate but 'caste' played a key role here, and senior (old!) leaders did not allow him to be at the forefront. But he would have surely been a deputy CM candidate.
Janarardhan Poojary from coastal belt made a blunder, by twisting his lengthy tongue during the election campaign. He wanted to impress the poor by bringing back arrack in the state, but his bright idea backfired as a large number of women voters expressed anger over him. Poojary, though he speaks openly without mincing his words, proves very expensive at times all because of his tendency to pass 'unncessary' remarks. His duty was to strengthen the Congress base in DK, and though Congress tally improved a lot, it is Poojary's responsbility along with Moily and Oscar to accept the shoulder for defeat.
The above leaders played significant roles in distributing the tickets, and as a result five rebel candidates of Congress won the elections as independent candidates!
Other Factors:
(With input from TOI)
The hard issues apart, a party analysis has blamed "poor management" and a "lack of preparation" for its debacle. Pointing fingers at the high command, leaders in AICC and Bangalore feel there is a critical lack of seriousness in tackling states.
As a leader said, "He was barely back from Tripura and, after a brief stopover in Karnataka, he is set to fly to J&K."
He was referring to Prithviraj Chavan, in-charge of the state. This, he said, when Mallikarjuna Kharge, KPCC chief, was made to sit idle for two years without office-bearers when BJP-JD(S) coalition regime was faltering at every step and presented an ideal opportunity for Congress to kickstart its campaign against discredited partners.
Sources said the party wanted the Election Commission to delay polls to make up for its own failure to put the state unit in order. Even district committees were not in place. A leader said, "It was like independent candidates with Congress symbol."
Nor did the central leadership move to factor in the ultimate imponderable — delimitation. Sources said the
party had no clue on how reconfigured constituencies would behave and banked more on guesswork and assumptions. The defeat, leaders said, has sounded warning bells on future battles with possibly
bigger political consequences.
Coming as preliminaries to Lok Sabha polls, end-year assembly tests in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Rajasthan would determine the claimants with mood and momentum to take over Parliament.
However, many believe the second consecutive defeat in Karnataka could call for a deeper analysis on social behaviour of voters than mere questions of management. The party seems to have stagnated, a far cry from the days when it would command an appeal among upper castes, a section of OBCs, SCs and STs and could provide a safe seat for leaders — from Indira Gandhi to Sonia Gandhi — uncertain of prospects elsewhere.
This is where BJP is seen to have stolen the march. While the saffron outfit built its campaign around Lingayats under the leadership of B S Yediyurappa, it managed to woo other social segments. On the other hand, Congress stuck to its own style of multiplicity of leadership to please all, only to fail with most of them.
It was a concert of leaders — Kharge, Siddaramaiah, S M Krishna — the party had bet on, an old way to accommodate old guard it fails to retire.
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