The one good thing about Indian elections post 2014 is: no matter how much Congress tries to corner BJP, there will be some point at which a strong comeback from the latter will mostly reduce their antics to peals of laughter. Ever since the electoral campaign for Karnataka has begun, the Congress has struck the axe more on their own feet rather than that of the political ambitions of BJP, who are looking forward to reopen the gates of Southern India for themselves with an electoral victory in Karnataka.
In an attempt to discredit the BJP for their improved governance in UP, under the leadership of firebrand leader and able administrator CM Yogi Adityanath, Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge took a jibe at CM Yogi’s model of assertive governance, asking if there is even a single thing that the state of Karnataka can learn from CM Yogi’s model of governance. Following is the caustic tweet:-
Tell me honestly, @BJP4Karnataka, is there a single thing that Karnataka can learn from UP CM on governance. It is quite evident the Yogi will be here to spew the venom of hatred. I am sure the campaign is not to tell us how about UP Model of development or governance. https://t.co/0pzxS4smMA
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 26, 2018
In case one is not aware, CM Yogi is all set to join the Karnataka election bandwagon as one of the star campaigners for the BJP from 3rd May onwards. In a total of 35 rallies, he shall promote the cause of the BJP and appeal to the masses to vote for BJP. Barring the rare exception of a loss at the by-polls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur, CM Yogi has been an effective campaigner, giving crucial seats to BJP in both the elections of Gujarat and Tripura.
Besides, CM Yogi is also a nightmare for many opposition leaders, including the incumbent CM of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, for whom the presence of CM Yogi in Karnataka is nothing less than an eyesore. As such, it is no surprise that from the CM to his minions, there is no stone being left unturned to discredit their performances. It hasn’t been even a week since Siddaramaiah insulted the presence of PM Modi and CM Yogi in Karnataka by terming them as ‘North Indians’, in a sly reference to the victory of Pulakeshin II over the Pushyabhuti king, Harsha Vardhan of Kannauj.
However, what Priyank Kharge wouldn’t have expected, is a solid comeback from the Karnataka wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Their twitter handle, which is one of the most savage handles ever operated by an Indian political party, gave an effective retort to Priyank Kharge in the same vein:-
Not to forget other achievements of Kharge
low female literacy rate, low sanitation cover, low sex ratio, high drop outs from schools, high infant & child mortality rate, lack of road connectivity to villages and so on!
BJP will tranform Karnataka, like Yogi is transforming UP!
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 26, 2018
While CM Yogi needs no introduction, his governance is something not many people in India are aware of. From ensuring a strict implementation of law and order (including intensive encounters and surprise raids on known criminals) to making sure that the benefits of his policies reach every home and hearth of the agrarian community in Uttar Pradesh, there is almost nothing that CM Yogi Adityanath has not done for the betterment of the state, reeling under corruption, terrorism and maladministration for the last two decades.
On the contrary, Karnataka is suffering for the maladministration and the excessive minority appeasement practiced by Siddaramaiah and his government. As such, statements like the one made by Priyank Kharge are only accelerating the departure of his government. It will be interesting to see if Siddaramaiah asks the motor-mouths of his party to keep quiet in the run-up to the elections on 12 May or he will see his own royal exit at the hands of the Karnataka masses.