- Recently, PM Modi was received by a huge crowd in Mangalore that had gathered 5 hours before his arrival
- Apparently, it is a testament to how popular PM Modi has become in Karnataka
- In the wake of other leaders not stepping up, PM Modi’s face will change election outcomes
A leader’s legitimacy is not measured by the number of votes he gets, but by how many voters are gushing to get their glimpse, which shows how much voters trust them. In this regard, PM Modi can easily be considered as the most popular Indian politician of the 21st century. This sends shivers down the spines of the opposition, the leader of which is Congress.
PM Modi’s gift to Karnataka and outpour of love
Recently, PM Modi was in Mangalore to lay the foundations for projects worth Rs 3,800 crores. It was his second major tribute to the nation on the same day. Earlier, he had dedicated INS Vikrant to the nation. Speaking on the occasion, he informed Kannadigas that Rs 70,000 crores had been invested to expand the highway network in the state.
People were jubilant to learn that projects worth Rs 1 lakh crores are in the pipeline. Karnataka has also witnessed a fourfold growth in its allotment under the Railway budget in the last 8 years.
Another beautiful aspect of PM Modi’s tour was how he was received by locals. People began arriving as early as 9 AM to see their beloved leader. During his impromptu roadshow, a large number of people had gathered on both sides of the road, making it tough for security personnel. They were raising slogans, and for the most of the day, it was tough to go through a few inches.
The reason behind the massive support
The outpouring of support is historic since not many leaders have such a dedicated fan following in Karnataka, or any South Indian state for that matter. The very fact that Kannadigas did not care about language; which they strictly adhere to while speaking to people from other states is a testament to PM Modi’s fame in the state.
But it did not come in a vacuum. Interestingly, it is a manifestation of a vacuum being created in Karnataka politics. The people of Karnataka are looking at the prospects of their state politics touching a historic low, in terms of the number of popular leaders competing for their attention. Currently, the old guards are either in decline or are graduating from other responsibilities.
Karnataka Politics is at saturation point
Currently, D.K. Shiv Kumar, Siddaramaih from Congress, B.S. Yediyurappa, Basavaraj Bommai, Tejasvi Surya from BJP, and H.D. Kumarswamy from Janata Dal (Secular) are some of the famous faces of Karnataka politics.
The weakened ones of the bunch are heading towards oblivion while stronger ones are looking more towards the centre.
Congress and JD (S) can’t do the magic
Siddaramaiah, the Congress leader, is now older than the existence of a politically independent India. While 75 years is too young for a country, the same number is an indication of declining prospects in politics. An indication of his decline is his attempt to reignite an old tactic of divide and rule in Karnataka, which is something politicians resort to when they run out of innovative options. D.K. Shivkumar, on the other hand, is not in good political health. Rampant corruption charges and nicknames such as “king of resort politics” won’t let his political career resurrect.
Even in the regional party JD(S) of Karnataka, H.D. Kumaraswamy has become a pale shadow of what he used to be. He is known for jumping from pillar to post, which is beneficial for a short term political advantage, but disastrous for a long-term political career. The man has not shown any clear cut political motive and keeps changing his stances. He is currently engaged in constant verbal spats with the ruling BJP.
BJP is the last hope
All hopes of providing a credible face to Karnataka politics have now been pinned on the ruling BJP. Currently, it boasts of two nationwide popular faces, Tejasvi Surya and B.S. Yediyurappa. While Tejasvi Surya has always been touted as someone who would handle national level affairs of the BJP, B.S. Yediyurappa has traditionally been in charge of local cadres in Karnataka.
He has held the chief ministerial post 4 times, the last time in 2021. But his elevation to the BJP Parliamentary board committee shows that the party is expecting him to graduate to the centre.
Bommai and PM Modi will do the job
Current chief minister Basavraj Bommai is the only one who is committed to state politics. However, despite his revolutionary decisions, the man has been unable to make many inroads into people’s hearts.
Read more: Karnataka CM Bommai is set to free temples from government control
Surely, it can change anytime, but for the time being, it appears that the BJP is planning to use PM Modi’s stardom to cement its long-term position in Karnataka. It is a tried and tested technique that can be replicated at least for one more state and general elections which are slated to be held in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
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