BJP’s ‘Tulu Card’ will be a game changer for Karnataka Elections

The upcoming elections in five Indian states, Karnataka and four North-Eastern states, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Mizoram will sound the poll bugle for general elections due next year. This will also act as semi-finals just before the grand finale. For the semi-finals, the BJP seems to be ready, with almost the north-east already conquered, the saffron party plans a grand sweep this time.

For the southern state of Karnataka, the Bhartiya Janata Party seems to be in a comfortable position. However, this time the BJP doesn’t want to take any risk, and probably this is why they have pulled their ace from the deck- the Tulu Card.

Karnataka Government bids for official language status for TULU

On January 30, V Sunil Kumar, the Kannada and Culture minister announced the formation of a panel dedicated to assessing the possibility for Tulu to be made an official language. The BJP government of Karnataka is bidding for Tulu to be made the second official language in the state.

The committee would be headed by Alva’s Education Foundation chairman Mohan Alva and has sought a report within a week.

This is not such a first attempt by the Bhartiya Janata Party in the state. Earlier in 2008, the then chief minister, BS Yediyurappa, took steps to accord official language status to Tulu, however, the initiative could not reach desired results.

Also read: Karnataka Assembly election 2023 is a different ball game and BJP needs to be more politically astute

Congress gives up its arms before the BJP

The Congress party, marred with factionalism that has lost its base in the state has given up its arms before BJP’s masterstroke. Congress, known for firing illogical criticism towards any of the decisions taken by the BJP government has welcomed the step.

Congress leaders from the coastal region of Karnataka, where the Tulu belt rests, have welcomed Sunil Kumar’s announcement along with All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson Lavanya Ballal Jain. Supporting BJP’s initiative, Jain said that the language must be added in the Eighth schedule of the Constitution as well.

Also read: After Karnataka council, BJP is all set to retain majority in the legislative assembly

Tulu- The language of coastal Karnataka

Tulu language is one among the bunch of Dravidian languages that includes Tamil, Telugu and Kannada and is revered as one of the oldest. As per several reports, the Tulu language is spoken by around 10 million people in Karnataka and some parts of Kerala.

In Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of the coastal region of Karnataka, Tulu is predominantly spoken and the locals refer to the region as Tulunadu.

There has been a long standing demand for recognition of Tulu language, finally going to be fulfilled by the BJP government under chief minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Also read: Your career is your responsibility – BJP Government in Karnataka draws a strict line around secularism

Tulu Card- The political game changer for BJP

As per the 2011 census, the Tulu speaking population in the country was 18.46 lakh. In the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts which form the coastal belt, which comprises 12 assembly seats and influences over 8 seats in the Uttara Kannada districts. However, the language has been pushed aside by the dominant Kannadiga culture in the state.

With the recognition to Tulu language, the political aspirations of the Tulu speaking people will also be fulfilled, which till now were fanned by ‘Tuluvere Paksha’, a political party demanding recognition to a seperate state for the Tulu speaking people, namely Tulu Nadu.

Ahead of the elections, the BJP seems to be making an effort to placate linguistic communities in coastal Karnataka, which could turn out to be game changer in the upcoming elections and may give the much required edge to the BJP. As in 2018, the state had thrown up an inconclusie verdict. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 104 seats, but was short of a majority by 9 seats.

The Congress had won 78 seats and Janata Dal (Secular) was decimated with just 37 in its kitty. As far as coastal Karnataka is concerned, the BJP had secured 18 out of 21 seats. This time with the Tulu card, the BJP is not only ensuring the 18, but also planning a clean sweep.