The leadership of the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) made the wise decision to make Modi the focal point of a state campaign. The BJP’s only control in South India has been decisively lost despite this aggressive effort.
    The losses for the BJP are significant because the gains for the Congress are enormous and will have an impact on many different levels. First off, the party has returned to power in a state with plenty of resources, which should give its 2024 campaign both support and momentum.
    Second, the Gandhi family effectively supported state leaders without trying to overshadow them; that’s a crucial balance the BJP failed to preserve.
    Priyanka Gandhi had both abrasive and charming qualities when campaigning. In contrast to areas where Modi campaigned, many of the strongholds where the party performed well were along Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra itinerary.  
    Most crucially, Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge advocated for the social justice plank, which is an article of faith with their coalition partners in Bihar and Tamil Nadu, throughout the Karnataka campaign. Both marched under the banner jitni abaadi/utna haq (rights should reflect the population numbers), demanding the removal of the 50% ceiling on reservations and the holding of a caste census.
    In light of the Karnataka election results, the Congress has come to the conclusion that in future electoral contests, a pro-poor stance and a social justice message are the most effective counters against Hindutva.
    The party is hopeful that there will be a domino effect in other state elections that are scheduled for the second half of the year. In Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, there is a direct race against the BJP. The effect on Telangana, which is governed by the regional Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and will hold assembly elections in late 2023, is also fascinating.
    Another rich bordering state, Maharashtra, where the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) is seen to be losing support, may see an increase in the popularity of the Congress. Problems with seat distribution and power sharing with allies will arise in places where the Congress may be perceived as having the capacity to improve the state’s situation.
    It cannot be denied, however, that even firmly anti-Congress ruling parties like the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi and Punjab have recently reversed course and advocated for the unity of the opposition. Both sides also deal with a never-ending barrage of enforcement cases.
    Finally, whether on purpose or by chance, the Congress also gained a significant ideological point when it was able to refute the Prime Minister’s argument for supporting Banjrangbali. Rahul Gandhi has every right to claim that hatred has lost because of the numerous Hindutva and anti-Muslim concerns that the BJP frantically promoted over the past two years. The party succeeded after navigating that minefield effectively.
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