Bengaluru, Aug 14: The national parties in Karnataka, the ruling BJP, and the opposition Congress are preparing for the upcoming Assembly elections on a war-footing basis. Both parties are presuming that they will come to power again in 2023. But, experts and analysts are of the opinion that it won’t be just a straight fight between BJP and Congress. Janata Dal (Secular), the regional party, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are all set to upset the calculations. Even, Social Democratic Party (SDPI) may hurt the national parties, according to political analysts.
The JD(S) under the leadership of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda is confident of playing a kingmaker’s role. AAP is even more confident that through its novel agenda and approach to the elections, it will be able to make a significant mark in these elections. The SDPI cadre is also working tirelessly to hurt the national parties as much as possible.
Gangotri Kumar, JD(S) Spokesperson explained that in the 2018 elections, the party lost 40 to 50 seats in a margin of 7,000 to 2,000 votes. “We have already given a recovery task. The ruling BJP is under the wrong assumption that RSS cadres will take care. Everyone knows about the opposition Congress’ infighting. They don’t know to whom B-forms are given. On top of it they are inviting candidates from the outside. The leaders who worked all these days will never let the new candidate win. It will prove to be beneficial to us,” he explains.
The national leaders of the Congress party are being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Congress State President D.K. Shivakumar is also being called for an investigation. Since Lokayukta is reinstated by the High Court, the denotification cases against Opposition leader Siddaramaiah will come out. The Congress will not have any face to come before the public, Rangothri Kumar explained.
“Ruling BJP has tie-up with the JD(S) in Mysuru City Corporation, likewise ties have been forged at many places. How can they even show BJP leaders in Mysuru? GST was thought of by the Congress party and implemented by the BJP. “People are suffering, BJP is going to people with issues of flag, religion. We will go before the people with an appeal to humanity. There is a movement slowly taking shape in the country. Bihar was just a beginning,” he said.
