K’taka verdict: What next for Rahul Gandhi?

Even though Karnataka verdict is a fractured mandate the people gave their verdict against the ruling Congress Government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Siddaramaiah who lost his seat at Chamundeshwari has won at Badami but indicative of anti incumbency working against his Government.

This verdict also questions Congress President Rahul Gandhi who faced Karnataka elections after taking over as the president of the party and lost. The lingayat division, appeasement politics did not work in favour of the century old party. The Congress lost Karnataka a major State from its kitty and it would have a major impact in the national politics. The party is now left with only Punjab and Pudhicherri. Analysts say that Karnataka elections are a preamble to 2019 general polls and also ensuing State Assembly elections. The blitzkrieg and high octane campaign by Rahul Gandhi did not help party gain and fight anti-incumbency. The victory for BJP in costal Karnataka, central Karnataka, Mumbai Karnataka and Malnad area has changed the prospects for BJP of being elected as a single largest party. The issue of corruption, development, appeasement politics of backward communities waned into blues against the powerful campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had peaked his campaign at the right time traversing the State.

Siddaramaiah who played his politics cleverly succeeded in completing his full term of five years has fought the prime minister and other BJP leaders but failed in converting his poll rhetoric in to votes to his party. Despite being considered an "outsider" he  became the first chief minister since Devraj Urs (1972-77) to complete a full five-year term in office.

Siddaramaiah  suffered a humiliating defeat in Chamundeshwari where he lost to G T Deve Gowda of the JD(S) by over 36,000 votes, but managed to win Badami by a slender margin against BJP's B Sreeramulu, a sitting saffron party MP and close aide of the controversial Reddy brothers.

Lingayat strongman and BJPs chiefministreal candidate BS Yeddyurappa won at Shikharipura by a big margin against his congress rival. He slammed the Congress for trying to grab power after being rejected by the people of Karnataka.

"The people have rejected the Congress and accepted BJP. People are moving towards 'Congress-mukt Karnataka'. Now they're trying to grab power despite facing rejection," he said at a press conference.