Karnataka verdict is out in the open today, and the Bharatiya Janata Party with 104 seats has emerged as the single largest party. BJP’s BS Yeddyurappa has taken oath today as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, shattering any hopes the Congress might have had regarding retaining Karnataka. Prominent BJP leaders, ranging from PM Modi to Uttar Pradesh firebrand Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, actively campaigned to enable BJP’s win in Karnataka. Every BJP leader played his part in ensuring BJP’s success in the state, but very few have worked as hard on the ground as BJP Party President Amit Shah. Amit Shah planned every single move a couple of months in advance to ensure BJP’s win in the state. The master strategist Amit Shah started with the groundwork for Karnataka in March this year, come April and Amit Shah was at ground zero in Karnataka. The twin losses for BJP in UP bypolls held in Phulpur and Gorakhpur had dampened the morale of BJP party workers across India. Amit Shah realized the importance of winning Karnataka; not only would Karnataka be BJP’s gateway to the south but could also prove to be the start they need for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Amit Shah left nothing to chance, he kickstarted the campaign for Karnataka in April. His 34 day long stay in Karnataka included 59 public meetings in 28 districts for which he travelled upwards of 57,000 kilometers. From visiting various maths to meeting booth level workers in the state, the master strategist from BJP left no stone unturned to ensure BJP’s win. Amit Shah has always relied on booth level workers for elections and Karnataka turned out to be no different. Far from the closed door approach which many party presidents have employed, Amit Shah thinks differently and the results show that his strategies work. BJP manifesto for Karnataka was prepared using the inputs received from the common people of Karnataka, it was conceptualized and finalized under his watchful eyes. It was Amit Shah’s decision to release the manifesto for the state and 224 others focusing on each constituency.
The rallies of Amit Shah drew huge crowds while efforts of BJP ground level workers ensured that all the other leaders visiting the state were welcomed with a full house, no matter the constituency they were visiting. Amit Shah’s importance can be ascertained from the fact that he was the only one apart from PM Modi who called the shots prior to the elections. His speeches given to party grass root workers were taken as the final word and his claim to form the government boosted their morale. BJP Party President had been given an uphill task to beat Congress and their divisive politics in Karnataka without falling down to their level.
Amit Shah ensured this would happen with ease and the results declared on 15th May proved that he was right. Congress had roped in ex-President Sonia Gandhi along with Rahul Gandhi and tried to stir up regional sentiments but they all failed drastically due to Shah’s planning. The whole think tank of Congress failed drastically against one man’s master plan. Rahul Gandhi could probably learn a few tricks from Amit Shah if he is capable of understanding the nitty-gritty of political planning. It would benefit the Congress in forming a strong opposition at the state level in upcoming elections, for as long as there is the combo of PM Modi and Amit Shah in the Centre, it is nearly impossible for the Congress to unseat the BJP.