With only 12 days to go for the Karnataka Assembly elections, the BJP’s tallest leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be in action from Tuesday.
With fewer days of campaign and packed political rallies, Modi has raised many eyebrows in political circles. He is scheduled to address 15 rallies in five days. These are challenging times for Modi, and his popularity, against a strong opposition, is on test in Karnataka.
Fewer rallies than Gujarat
This is far than his December 2017 campaign in his home State of Gujarat, where he addressed 34 rallies (the bulk of them closer to the date of polling). In early 2017, Modi campaigned in Uttar Pradesh, where he addressed over 20 rallies during the 6-phase elections. Modi last election rally in Karnataka happened over 60 days ago — on the occasion of BJP chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa’s birthday on February 28.
Prior to this, Modi visited the State in January-February and addressed three rallies — in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Kalaburagi. He had tried to set the election agenda by raising corruption, appeasement politics and political killings under the Congress government.
The agenda
It appears that Modi and the BJP are likely to focus on its ‘development’ plank. An indication of this was visible during his interactions with party leaders and workers via the NaMo app.
The Karnataka elections have been termed a Modi vs Siddaramaiah affair. It is to be seen how Modi addresses Siddaramaiah’s rhetoric on language, the State flag, Lingayats and the Mahadayi river issue.
“Party workers are of the belief that ‘Modi is magic’. He is said to have his own agenda. We are likely to see this on display during his public rallies in the next eight days,” said a BJP spokesman.
Others in the party say Modi’s is likely to talk about development and highlight his vision for the State.
“Development, development and development. BJP has given importance to politics of development instead of getting involved in other unrelated issues. With our focused on development, we run the government, fight elections and talk about development to people,” he had explained during his address to party workers.
Hung Assembly
With multiple agencies forecasting a hung Assembly, Modi has warned BJP workers of a Congress conspiracy. “Party candidates and workers should fight the lies of the Congress, to secure full majority in Karnataka.”
Without referring to Lingayat-Veerashiva issue, Modi had said: “A few parties offer lollipops to woo voters of a caste or a community, so that they are caught up in that issue and vote based on emotion. When the next election comes they leave that community and get hold of another group or community and give them a new lollipop.”