Revealed: Congress strategy to win Karnataka, stop BJP's southern march in 2024

New Delhi: The Congress is desperate to win the Karnataka Legislative Assembly polls to maintain its political relevance at the national level. And, so far, its central leaders and state unit are seemingly working in tandem to help achieve this goal.

The grand old party knows that securing a victory in the forthcoming Karnataka Assembly polls is very important for its survival, as it looks to consolidate itself ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Senior leadership in the party feels that Karnataka could be the spark needed by the grand old party to turn around its fortunes ahead of the crucial general elections next year. A victory could fill the party leaders and cadre with enthusiasm and provide it with power in a major state, deemed crucial to regain its lost ground across the country.

Sources stated as per the demand by the Pradesh Congress Committee, the central leadership has not stirred any controversy and stuck to raising local issues during the ongoing campaigning for the state legislature.

Congress leaders in Karnataka heaved a sigh of relief after senior party leader Rahul Gandhi did not stir any major political controversy during his Assembly polls campaign recently. The Congress scion stuck to raising local issues taking a cue from the state unit which has been running an electoral campaign in Karnataka, largely based on local issues. Rahul Gandhi's visit to the Nandini stall also reinforced this focus on local issues. ‘Vocal on local’ is seemingly what the state unit asked for from its senior leader.

State leadership on a leash

Three top leaders hailing from the southern state, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, PCC chief D K Shivakumar and former Chief Minister and leader of the Opposition of Karnataka Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah, are working in tandem to help achieve the goal to secure the state for the grand old party.

Though the three leaders had pushed for fielding candidates backed by them in regions under their influence for the forthcoming Assembly polls, they have so far desisted from targeting each other. Instead, they have been scathing in their attacks on the saffron unit also ensuring two high-profile entries from BJP, including former chief minister Jagadish Shettar and deputy CM Laxman Savadi, into the grand old party’s folds.

Earlier, a section in the Congress had feared that having three senior leaders from the state could end up hurting the prospects of the grand old party in the forthcoming polls. However, the three have so far allayed these fears. The caste combination of the three top leaders is also proving to be a boon for the Congress providing it with much-needed social and caste equilibrium. While Kharge is seen as representing the substantial Dalit population in the state, Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga leader has a significant hold over voters from the Old Mysuru region. Similarly, Siddharamaiah, also popularly known as Siddu, belongs to the backward class Kuruba community and holds sway amongst the backward classes.

The three are seemingly desisting from making any moves that could end the prospects of the party. The battle for supremacy is being postponed till after the results and all factions are seemingly focusing on getting as many of their legislators elected as possible. They know that the battle for the Chief Ministerial post would only take place after the requisite numbers are secured by the Congress, sources pointed out.

The 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly is scheduled for polls in a single phase on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13.

Karnataka was the first state to have elected a BJP government in South India and is considered to be immensely important for the saffron unit and Congress is working overtime to snatch it away.

Karnataka elects 28 MPs to the lower house of the Parliament. Of these, the BJP had secured 25 seats with one seat secured by an NDA ally in the 2019 general elections and the saffron unit hopes to retain Karnataka's strength of seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to seek a third term, the Congress hopes to put brakes on the 2024 campaign of BJP in Karnataka by winning the Assembly polls.