The last time the Congress won the Karnataka state elections was in 2013. The party won a comfortable majority, winning 122 of the 224 seats in the state assembly.
224 constituencies today, the BJP emerged as the single largest party bagging 101 seats and was leading in three with a vote share of 36.2 per cent while the Congress came second with a tally of 78 seats accounting for 38 per cent of the votes.
But in the elections of 2023, there is a hijab issue and internal problem of BJP which changed the full mandate of 2023 poll.
There are several issues which I think changed the result of Election.
Anti-incumbency: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the time was facing anti-incumbency sentiments due to a series of corruption scandals and controversies.
Strong leadership: The Congress was led by veteran politician D.K Shivkumar who was seen as a strong leader and an effective campaigner. He was able to galvanize support for the party and articulate a clear vision for the state.
Minority support: The Congress was able to win support from minority communities such as Muslims and Christians, who make up a significant proportion of the population in some parts of the state.
Welfare programs: The Congress government had implemented several welfare programs aimed at providing support to farmers, the poor, and other marginalized groups. These programs were popular among voters and helped to boost the party’s support.
Internal disturbance in the party: Former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa in the end seems to have paid off. He delivered a substantial chunk of the Lingayat vote which could have easily gone the Congress way. The Janata Dal (Secular) retaining its core base with the Vokkaligas shows Karnataka’s caste concentrations are still intact.
One of the key issues that is likely to dominate the campaign is the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Karnataka, like many other states in India, has been hit hard by the pandemic, with several waves of infections and a high number of deaths. The state government’s response to the crisis, including the handling of the vaccination drive and the provision of medical facilities, is likely to be a major issue in the elections.
Overall, the Congress’ victory in the 2023 Karnataka state elections was the result of a combination of factors, including strong leadership, effective campaigning, popular welfare programs, and opposition fragmentation.