PM Modi's visit buoys up State BJP, oppn nervous

Mysuru: Just a few hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's departure from Mysuru, political parties have tried to understand the broader aspect his visit left behind. It left the BJP both happy and nervous. Happy because it could be virtually no opposition in the 2023 Assembly elections and nervous because a few strong leaders from the other parties are knocking on its doors.

Modi's 'double engine' statement appealing to the people of Mysuru to give him their blessings to work for them clearly meant that he has already sounded the poll bugle in his own inimitable way which only seasoned politicians could make out. Modi's visit and his 'power push' by participating in the International Day of Yoga in the State's cultural city which gives its name to an entire region called 'Old Mysuru', has sent a subtle message that he expected the people of the region to support him and his party.

Prior to his visit, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda had clearly indicated that the BJP was looking at mopping up at least 75 per cent of the 47 Assembly seats in the old Mysuru region in five districts, where Congress and JDS enjoy majority. The old Mysuru region also is seen as a political disruptor in the electoral process and in the formation of the government. In the last three Assembly elections, JDS had played significant roles and, on two occasions, emerged as kingmaker. Memories of the first 20-20 State governments in the entire country are still afresh in the political circles.

BJP thinks this is a terrible thing to happen for a democracy. The party thinks that a single party rule in both State and at the Centre - is termed a 'double engine' government, this term has been going around in the State and the BJP is sure to make this term its mainstay in the electioneering for the 2023 elections.

Following Modi's visit, a few political leaders including MLA GT Deve Gowda in Mysuru, who is a JDS strongman and MP of Mandya Sumalath Ambareesh shared the dais with Modi on Saturday. Both of them have been nursing the hope of joining a stable party and their intentions have shown in certain actions they have taken in the last one year. But both Sumalata and Deve Gowda explain their presence at the Modi event at Mysuru on Saturday as an act of honour to the invitation they received in their capacity as public representatives.

Rumour mill inside the JDS has it that its legislators are fed up with 'sitting on the fence' in the corridors of power in the State. The mood in the JDS and Congress is that it would be wiser to be with a 'stable' party rather than to face an uncertain political future. Better we decide the future course with a stable party, which is the sentiments that is expressed by the JDS and Congress parties.

BJP itself is not happy to encourage horse-trading and floor crossing by the legislators. A senior BJP leader stated that we want Karnataka to be fully governed by BJP in 2023 and by cornering at least 45 seats from the Old Mysuru region we would be able to end all uncertainties when we form the next government. Congress party is also jittery about the focus of the BJP on the Old Mysuru region but DK Shivakumar and S Siddaramiah both are strong in that region and could keep their flock together till the next elections at least. Right now the Congress was wearing a brave face.