Elections now appear to follow a set template and the Karnataka polls seem to be no different. As in previous state Assembly elections, 'Pakistan' and 'Mani Shankar Aiyar' have been brought into the campaign. Both have often helped the BJP gain sympathy.
In the latest round, BJP chief Amit Shah panned Pakistan and the Congress for their 'love' for Tipu Sultan.
As in the past elections, the BJP has been bringing in the 'Pakistan' card to polarise voters. It helps in convincing the fence-sitters to side with nationalistic appeal. The saffron party had hit out at the Congress by referring to its alleged closeness to the neighbouring country.
Shah tweeted on Saturday, “The Congress and Pakistan have amazing telepathy. Yesterday, Pakistan government remembered Tipu Sultan, whose jayanti (birth anniversary) the Congress marks with fanfare and today Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar admires Jinnah. Be it Gujarat or Karnataka polls, I fail to understand why Congress involves Pakistan."
Tipu is often criticised as an anti-Hindu ruler who committed atrocities during his rule in Mysore. The Congress government in Karnataka had earlier organised Tipu Jayanti. A few days back, Pakistan had lauded Tipu.
Shah had earlier used the 'Pakistan' card during the elections in Bihar, Gujarat and, now, Karnataka.
Interestingly, if BJP has been drawing Pakistan into the debate to its advantage, Congress leader Aiyar too has been becoming an issue during elections with his controversial statements.
He has a curious timing in making statements especially during the elections, which had helped the BJP. If during the Gujarat elections, he had hosted Pakistani diplomats at his house, which BJP termed was a conspiracy to defeat it, this time around, Aiyar was in Pakistan. During a function on Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Aiyar praised the founder of Pakistan.
The BJP quickly pounced on this opportunity to criticise the Congress.
Aiyar's comments during the Gujarat elections were repeatedly used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP to create a favourable reaction in the saffron party's favour. Aiyar's comments had even forced party chief Rahul Gandhi to criticise him and distance his party from it. But the damage was done. Later, senior Congress leaders agreed Aiyar's comments helped the BJP.
The BJP's attempt in painting Congress as a anti-Hindu party had often paid electoral dividends. To shake off this tag, Gandhi had made it a point to visit temples during the election campaign, as it was evident during the Gujarat elections and now the Karnataka campaign.