4 Reasons Behind the BJP’s Historic Victory in Karnataka

Securing a vote share of over 57%, the BJP crossed the half-way mark for the first time in Karnataka.

PM Modi and BJP Karnataka president BS Yeddyurappa

(Photo: The Quint/Erum Gour)

Looking at posting a win in 25 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, the BJP has executed a near sweep of the state, without any alliance partners.

With a record vote share of 51.38%, the BJP crossed the halfway mark for the first time in Karnataka.

The Congress-JD(S) coalition, which had won 11 seats in the previous election, has been reduced to merely two seats this time around. CM HD Kumaraswamy tweeted his surprise, while bowing down to the mandate of the people.

An internal survey by the BJP itself, had suggested that the party would bag 22 seats in the polls. So, what led to the BJP performing beyond its expectations in the state?

1. Coalition Infighting

First of all, the result is an indication of the fact that the people have not approved the alliance between the Congress and JD(S).

The constant bickering and infighting between the coalition partners was used as a campaign tool by the BJP in the state, much to their obvious advantage.

2. No Transfer of Vote

The transfer of vote between the alliance partners in the state has not taken place. The coalition was pinning its hopes on this vote transfer that was supposed to catapult them to victory.

However, from the beginning itself the ground level workers of the both parties were not ready to accept the deal struck by their party high commands.

This was seen most recently when the Mandya seat was given to the JD(S) in their seat-sharing agreement with the Congress for the Lok Sabha polls. Grassroots-level Congress workers were unable to reconcile their long-standing respect and loyalty to late actor-politician Ambareesh with the instruction to support the coalition’s candidate and CM’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

3. Modi Wave

Most of the candidates in the state campaigned in the election asking vote in the name of Modi, instead of delving into state or local issues. By elevating the discourse to the national level, that is wont to happen in Presidential elections such as this one, they sold the idea of Modi as PM.

Think national, vote local.

The Balakot strikes only increased his popularity, which converted into easy votes for the BJP candidates in Karnataka.

4. Poor Match of Candidate and Constituency

The poor choice of candidates and choice of constituencies for the big names resulted in the coalition’s top candidates, including former prime minister Deve Gowda, losing their mandate.