The Congress in Karnataka has not just emerged as the single-largest party by beating the BJP, it is on the path to securing a comfortable majority, thus killing any hopes the BJP may have had of horse-trading its way to power. The BJP government has been dogged by public accusations of rampant corruption, with trade bodies accusing officials of demanding a 40% cut on deals and job recruitment. Even rallies by some of the BJP’s star names, including the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, drew lacklustre crowds. The Congress fought these elections on local issues of livelihood and food security, price rise, farmer distress, electricity supply, joblessness and corruption. Congress wave was so strong that it even did not spare bigwigs. The BJP stalwarts are losing their facade of charisma. People are not blind, everyone needs good quality life and better future. The Congress has proved it can win a head-to-head battle with the BJP despite the saffron party using PM Narendra Modi as the headliner of its campaign. The loss in Karnataka severely dents BJP’s claim of being a truly pan-India party.
