BJP lotus blooms as Congress power withers

TALKING HEADS: Experts on CNN-IBN debate BJP's winning streak ahead of the General Elections.

                                    

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Yadav explained that in today’s personality-driven politics Yeddyurappa was a guarantee for the BJP. People want to connect to a face so in a sense it was a disadvantage for the Congress.

Yadav also pointed out that Chavan’s claims of social coalition were unfounded.

He explained, “In this elections the Congress’s social coalition was significantly broken. Muslims in southern Karnataka went in a big way to JDS. Dalits mainly went the BSP way and the OBCs were shared by both JDS and BJP. The adivasis, too, were as much the category of the BJP as the Congress.”

The initial dissection of the electoral results revealed that the high-command culture is letting the Congress down in state elections. So does the Congress need to do more at the micro-level?

Chavan said, “Mr Krishna wanted to come back to active politics. It was his request. And the Congress wanted all its leaders to get into the campaign. We also wanted to utilise Krishna for the party. The understanding was that he would not contest state elections. However, if the party felt in case it wins the elections he could always become the chief ministerial candidate. So he was back with that understanding.”

But Chavan did admit that the party has to introspect on why so many senior Congress leaders lost during the Karnataka battle.

Political realignments

After what was witnessed in Karnataka, there is now talk of political realignments. Is the SP part of this and is the party a potential ally for the Congress, especially after SP General Secretary Amar Singh was part of the PM’s celebratory dinner on UPA completing its four-year term at the Centre?

Taking a light note of dinner politics, Singh said, “I have had dinners with many PMs and if that was the consideration then I should have been in many parties by now.”

However, Singh hastened to add, “The era of political civility between the Congress and SP is returning and I welcome it.”

Meanwhile, on embracing an ally like SP, Congress Spokesperson Manish Tiwari said, “The UPA will continue for another year. So as far as new allies are concerned I suppose we will cross the bridge when we come to it.”

Speaking on Gowda’s future and a possible inclusion in the UNPA, Singh said, “Any decision on Gowda’s future cannot be taken in isolation. As far as Gowda is concerned he is responsible for his own doom. His inconsistency brought him down and he if continues to be like this then every political party will be cautious of him.”

So will be the Lok Sabha elections be decided by who has the best allies?

Sushma replied in the affirmative saying that the effectiveness of alliance does matter while running a coalition government.

Chavan too agreed and added, “The next election will be decided on the basis of good governance and that is why we are sure that UPA government will come to power.”

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