With the Siddaramaiah government in poll-bound Karnataka openly endorsing Ahinda politics, the BJP has finally settled for a dual strategy to tame the ruling Congress in the crucial Assembly polls in April-May.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's “Vikas” (development) agenda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's firebrand “Hindutva” politics will set the campaign pitch in Karnataka, where the BJP has successfully experimented with the Hindutva movement to consolidate the fragmented Hindu votes. With the state all set to face a triangular fight with Janata Dal (Secular), too, wielding enough clout, only a polarisation of votes would benefit the BJP. It is here the traditional votebanks need constant reminders in the form of strong pro-Hindu messaging and Yogi seems to just fit the bill.
Adityanath, who addressed as many as 35 rallies in Gujarat wasted no time and landed in Karnataka (Hubli) for the Parivarthana Rally led by BJP's chief ministerial candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa on December 22. He launched an attack on Siddaramaiah government's “anti-Hindu” stance. Again on January 7, while addressing Parivarthana Yatra in Bengaluru, he dared Chief Minister Siddaramaiah prove his Hindu credentials by banning cow slaughter.
At Hubli, even as the BJP was drawing flak for the deadlock over the Mahadayi inter-state water sharing dispute, Yogi took a dig at Siddaramaiah government for celebrating “Tipu Jayanti”, and accused the chief minister of stalling “Hanuman Jayanthi”. A jittery Congress watched as Yogi reminded the people that Karnataka was the birth place of Hanuman and he exhorted people to vote for the BJP. “Tell the Congress that in this country, Hanuman will always be revered and not Tipu Sultan," said Yogi. Siddaramaiah had responding to the barbs on twitter asking if only the BJP leaders were Hindus. “Are we (Congress) not Hindus? Has BJP taken over Hinduism on lease? My name has both 'Siddha' and 'Rama'. Respecting all religions is true Hindutva,” Siddaramaiah had fumed.
In Bengaluru, yogi took on Siddaramaiah over cow slaughter. “Siddaramaiah cannot claim to be a Hindu, if he advocates beef eating. Why did your government repeal the law banning cow slaughter, which was enacted by the BJP government? Cow is a very sacred animal to Hindus. If Siddaramaiah is a Hindu, he shouldn’t allow cow slaughter,” charged Adityanath, who reminded the deeper connections of the “Nath” tradition being practised in both UP and Karnataka – as Gorakhnath and Bhyraveshwara (Adichunchungiri Math) respectively.
Referring to Sidadramaiah's recent interview, where he has called himself a Hindu, Yogi taunted him saying, “Like Rahul Gandhi who suddenly started visiting temples during Gujarat elections, Siddaramaiah suddenly remembered he was a Hindu,” he added.
Adityanath dubbed the Congress a burden on the country as it “practised divisive politics”. “Karnataka is only an ATM for the Congress and Siddaramaiah government has dragged it five years backward. During Atal ji's tenure as PM, Bangalore got international airport and Metro rail. Modi ji gave schemes like Smartcity, and Digital India to develop the cities and empower the youths. But for any development, it is important to elect a party that shares the same vision both in the state and at the Centre,” said Yogi, adding that people of Karnataka should elect the BJP to put Karnataka back on the development track, just like how Hanuman showed the path to Lord Rama to unite with Sita.
Adityanath also targeted the Congress government for the “total collapse” of law and order and recounted the serial killings of 22 right-wing workers in the state.
Even as Hindutva posterboy Adityanath's campaign is hoped to swing the electorate, especially the youth towards the saffron party, the ruling Congress is already seeing red. It was evident when Siddaramaiah triggered a twitter war the moment Adityanath landed in Bengaluru.
Siddaramaiah welcomed his UP counterpart on twitter and told him he had a “lot to learn” from the Congress-ruled state. “I welcome UP CM Shri @myogiadityanath to our state. There is a lot you can learn from us sir. When you are here, please visit an Indira canteen and a ration shop. It will help you address the starvation deaths sometimes reported from your state,” tweeted Siddaramaiah (#YogiInBengaluru)
A few hours later, Adityanath responded with a “Thank you for the welcome @siddaramaiah ji. I heard number of farmers committing suicide in Karnataka was highest in your regime, not to mention the numerous deaths and transfer of honest officers. As UP CM I am working to undo the misery and lawlessness unleashed by your allies.”
The Congress Party which is worried about its growing “anti-Hindu” image is sure on damage control. While Modi is expected to hold his maiden election rally on January 28 in Bengaluru, AICC president Rahul Gandhi will kickstart his campaign in Karnataka on January 20 at Bellay and Belagavi, when he will address caste conventions.
