The loss in Karnataka has tarnished Rahul Gandhi's image as a political strategist and jolted his ambitions to emerge as a chief political rival to the charismatic Narendra Modi.
Yet another Modi-wave have encapsulated Karnataka. After the nearly six-month-long dexterous campaign, the people of Karnataka have delivered a verdict which will most likely go in the favour of the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party. But what is next for Congress- the party has now been virtually decimated in majority of the states in India. Not only does it have the lowest ever representation in the Lok Sabha, after today the paty may also be shrunk to rule just two states and one Union Territory- Punjab, Mizoram, and Puducherry.
Well, this loss will not only be a huge setback for the Congress party, it will also tarnished Rahul Gandhi's image as a political strategist and jolt his ambitions to emerge as a chief political rival to the charismatic Narendra Modi in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
When the Indian National Congress was formed in 1885, it had a clear agenda to establish itself as the largest political party in India. But 130-odd years later, the party is struggling to stay afloat in the national politics. With the loss in Karnataka, the Congress has lost its foot in South India too.
Karnataka was the first election being led by Rahul Gandhi since he took over the party president last December. On its part, the Congress party left no stone unturned to pull up an impressive political campaign. With his powerful speeches and election promises, it seemed that Rahul Gandhi has won the masses. But the mandate seems to be going against him and his party.
Well, there is a multitude of reasons that might have worked against the Congress and Siddaramaiah. Even though the Congress government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is only the second government in the state to complete five-year-term, neither the government nor its leader is immune to the barrage of corruption allegations charged against them. When Siddaramaiah formed a government in 2013, it was the slogan of good governance that led him to victory. But after five years, governance has been the biggest casualty in his rule. Last year in a study conducted by the New-Delhi based think-tank, Centre for Media Studies (CMS), Karnataka was listed as the most corrupt state in India. Over the years corruption has been rampant in the state and the Siddaramaiah government has failed miserably in cracking it down.
Also read: Karnataka Election Results 2018 LIVE: BJP emerges as single largest party in trends, Congress looks at JDS for alliance
Even though the Siddaramaiah government can be credited for keeping the economy in the state uptight, the health of the agriculture sector in the state has upset the people. The agriculture sector growth shrunk to 4.9 per cent from 5.3 per cent in the state. The number of farmer suicides because of failed crop rotation and indebtedness has seen a sharp ascend. More than 2000 farmer suicides have been reported from the state during the past three years. The Congress government has done nothing substantial to change this scenario and the party has paid its price in this election.
The law and order situation in the state is not in a smooth trajectory. The state witnessed violent protests over the Cauvery water dispute and the government has been a complete failure in controlling the situation. The murders of writers MM Khalburgi and Govind Panesar and the high-profile murder of noted journalist Gauri Lankesh is a testament to the failure of the government.
His dictum of ‘Kannadiga Pride’ is something that has raked much controversy in the state over the past one year. From approving the demand for a separate religion to Lingayat community to making Kannada language mandatory in schools and celebrating the birth anniversary of Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan, Siddaramaiah has tried all sorts of caste and community politics to uphold his Kannadiga pride. And this move, Siddaramaiah once coined as his 'trump card' emerged as his road to exit.
Karnataka election is an existential battle for the Indian National Party and Rahul Gandhi. It is, by all means, crucial as it lays the groundwork for the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. The loss will give yet another opportunity for the opposition who have long questioned Rahul Gandhi for his failure to execute his plans. His prime ministerial ambitions will definitely suffer a backlash. The party's aspiration to forge alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha Election will also suffer a major blow as all its previous major allies including the Samajwadi Party and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will now be reluctant to include Congress in their plans.
Congress has now to put their whole energy to the upcoming elections in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh to come out of the loss in Karnataka. A win in these elections will certainly help Congress to halt the nearly invincible run of the BJP. But a loss will again put the party to a state of dismay.