Karnataka Election results are not only surprising but also path-changing. They have reasserted the fact that love is greater than hate, democracy is stronger than fascism and people are more powerful than politicking. The BJP and Congress both know it fully that the result of this election will have a very strong influence on the outcome of 2024 general elections. What has astonished the observers is that in spite of the use of money, muscle and communal poison the people have refused to fall prey to communal propaganda. They have voted for love not hate, solid programmes not empty promises.
The chief strategist and the party supremo with all his captivating speeches was present throughout the campaign yet the people refused to be carried away by the rhetoric. They had seen how they have harmed the country. The lowest point of the campaign was reference to the film, The Kerala Story, as if it were a fact-based documentary and not a sentimental propaganda film. The second in command, Mr. Amit Shah warned that if Congress wins, there would be riots in the state. But the common people who had bitter experience with the last five years misrule refused to accept all such suggestions. They were more concerned about the reign of corruption which exploded in the form of corruption raj. There was a detailed rate card for every service or favour. The frustrated people rejected every such appeal and preferred the grand old party which did not take help of communal divide or narrowminded sentimental appeals.
People had seen how the BJP had failed to solve the problems of inflation and unemployment. They refused to be carried away by reference to Ram and Bajrang Bali. Mr. Modi’s exploitation of the religious sentiments by asking them to shout Bajrang Bali while casting vote was in clear contravention of the standards set for poll campaign. But the Election Commission did not take cognisance of the wrongdoings.
Karnataka citizens have made it crystal clear that they would not be carried away by religious or communal appeals. The ruling party tried to create and use communal appeal. They talked in the terms of Tipu Sultan versus Savarkar and in a veiled way Hindu versus Muslim. They even concocted a fake story that Tipu Sultan was not a martyr who had died for India while fighting the British but was killed by two Vokkaliga fighters. But people did not buy this false story and in the Vokkaliga stronghold demolished the memorial gate erected to honour the so-called Vokkaliga fighters. The voters clearly realised the social amity was being sought to be destroyed for worst type of vote bank politics.
Now, on the one hand the Congress feels a shot in arm and hopes to build on it to enhance its appeal to the whole country and stage a comeback again as an alternative to the BJP. At the same time the BJP must revise its stand and decide to amend its divide and rule policy. Otherwise, the days are not far away when the whole country would reject it and throw it in the dustbin of history. India wants truly democratic, all-inclusive, pro-people policies which can ensure peace, prosperity and progress for every Indian.