Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Dec 25: Both the BJP and the Congress are in an upbeat mood and for obvious reasons after the eagerly awaited Gujarat elections. If the BJP is smarting under the victories in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, Congress is trying to see a silver lining after bagging 80 seats in Gujarat. Congress supporters believe that the party’s performance in Gujarat has given it the much need oxygen to survive against the Modi juggernaut and also to fight another battle in the southern state of Karnataka where elections are due in April-May 2018.

One thing is sure that the outcome of the Gujarat elections will certainly force both the BJP and Congress to change their campaign tactics and take note of the shortcomings. Gujarat poll campaign was one of the most vicious and hateful political campaign the country witnessed in the recent past and Karnataka might see the worst ever political discourse we have witnessed in recent times, considering the stakes involved.

But before that, let us come to the Congress claim of ‘moral victory’ in Gujarat and the efforts to stall the proceedings of the parliament. May be there are many takers for the claim among the Congress and its alliances for this rhetoric of moral victory in Gujarat. Heart of heart they know they lost the battle in Gujarat but to keep the rejuvenated cadre happy they adopted this tagline of moral victory. In any election there is a winner and a loser and people’s verdict has to be accepted. But not accepting defeat and to cling on to the weak and rather ridiculous claim of ‘moral victory’ is an insult to democracy and to the people of Gujarat. What matters in elections is electoral triumph and not moral victory.

One has to be gracious in defeat and Rahul Gandhi who had secured 80 seats for the Congress would have been appreciated if he were to accept defeat and vowed to fight against the BJP with the same verve and vigor he displayed in Gujarat. If the same logic of ‘moral victory’ is applied to all elections then every defeated party can claim they won a moral victory after losing an election. Even the Patidar leader Hardik Patel can claim that it was his victory in Gujarat because Congress rode piggy-back on Patidar agitation leader resulting in big gains for the Congress in Saurashtra in Gujarat.

Gujarat elections has seen an aggressive Rahul Gandhi campaigning with all his might and the Congress succeeded in pitting him against Modi, something which BJP tried to avoid till recently. Continuing the same aggressive posturing even after Gujarat results may not yield anything at this juncture. Rahul has to reserve his energy and aggressiveness for the next big elections in Karnataka if he is really serious about reviving Congress fortunes. Rahul’s advisors would do well to counsel him to tone down his aggressive bravado and concentrate his energies for the upcoming elections in Karnataka, now that the focus has shifted to this southern state.

The Karnataka battle will be crucial for both the BJP and the Congress as much as the Gujarat one. For the Congress it’s impressive show in Gujarat will be a morale booster and its rank and file is fully energized. A win here will keep the Congress alive and will give the party another lease of life. Nonetheless the BJP is encouraged by the win in Gujarat and will try to make amends for its shortcomings. Karnataka is the best bet for the BJP to gain a footing in the South and realise its grand idea of a pan-India presence.

However both parties know very well that the ground realities in Karnataka are completely different as compared to Gujarat. Caste and factor will be a key issue in Karnataka and the presence of a third player in Janata Dal (S) will certainly make it three cornered contest in many seats.

Unlike in Gujarat, in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah the BJP has a strong Congress leader at the helm and that is a big advantage for the Congress. Siddaramaiah has already put the Congress on the poll mode and has been doling out many freebies. He is touring the entire state and is seen as an aggressive campaigner. On the other hand BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Yeddyurappa is seen more of a liability than an asset notwithstanding his stature as a leader of the powerful Lingayat community. However, he has not been able to rally around the entire BJP cadre with him. The BJP’s misrule after it wrested power in 2008 and corruption the scandals and corruption charges against Yeddyurappa who is projected as its Chief Minister, will weigh heavily against the BJP.

In the event of both the BJP and the Congress falling short of a clear majority the JD(S) run by the father son duo H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy will surely play the role of a kingmaker and that is what both the BJP and Congress dread the most.

The battleground of Karnataka is all set for a major fight and it remains to be seen which party will have the electoral and moral victory in this eagerly awaited battle.