BJP banks heavily on PM Modi to turn tide in Karnataka elections

BENGALURU: While both BJP and Congress are optimistic about their prospects in the May 10 elections, both national parties are hoping to turn the tide completely in their favour in the last leg of campaigning.
While Congress is hopeful of winning as the governing party has always been booted out since 1985, BJP is banking on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, who has already launched an aggressive campaign in the state.

Parties will need to win 113 seats for a simple majority — a feat BJP has never achieved— and state functionaries will be hoping Modi pulls a rabbit out of the proverbial hat and ensures the saffron party forms the government.
Sandeep Shastri, a psephologist, said if BJP is to retain the only state in the south which it governs, it will need every bit of Modi’s charisma, presence, popularity, and persuasive skills to propel the party to victory.
“That’s why Modi’s last leg of campaigning is significant for BJP,” Shastri said. “For a long time now, BJP has been depending on the Prime Minister to win state elections. Karnataka will be an interesting test case.”

Sources say Modi will conduct about 15 public meetings and roadshows in six days,giving the campaign a significant push.
“Modi will campaign on April 28 and 29 and May 3, 4, 6 and 7 and will hold 12 to 15 rallies, public meetings, androadshows,” party functionaries said. “His focus will be on a ‘double-engine’ government with the same party in power at the Centre to ensure speedy growth and smooth delivery of central welfare schemes. ”
Union minister Pralhad Joshi said Modi will begin his campaign from Belagavi. He will visit Chikkodi, Kittur, and Kudachi in Belagavi, the second biggest district in Karnataka in terms of constituencies. He will also visit Uttara Kannada.

Rajnath Singh, who has recovered from Covid after being down for nearly a week, will also join the campaign.
“BJP is excited about Modi’s programme as the Prime Minister’s arrival creates an atmosphere that favours BJP,” said Aravind Bellad, BJP MLA.
However, Congress functionaries said Modi would at most turn their vote share down by 1-2% and not significantly. In 2018, they said Modi had campaigned extensively in the last leg, but he failed to significantly improve BJP’s prospects.
Vishwas Shetty, a political commentator, pointed out that Modi, who has visited the state eight times since January, has been emphasising more on his government’s performance and less on the state government’s performance. “This may not help much as people are keen to know how the state BJP will be able to make a difference in their lives,” Shetty said.