Karnataka Politics: RSS And BJP Hold Two-Day Meet In Bengaluru As State Gears Up For Election 2023

With the state gearing up to go in for elections in 2023, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh held a two day closed-door meeting in Karnataka’s capital Bengaluru.

As reported by One India, the meeting is said to have the state BJP president Nalin Kumar Katee, CM Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, BJP Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh, RSS Sahkaryavah Mukund, among other Sangh office bearers in attendance.

The meet is said to be to assess the BJP’s prospects in the upcoming polls and to provide feedback on the performance of the Bommai-led government as it completes one year in office soon.

As reported by the Economic Times, the meet is also likely to discuss the possibility of an early election alongside Gujarat’s.

The unimpressive performance of the ruling party in the local body elections as well as a meagre 50 per cent victory in the legislative council where it was said to be confident of a sweep, is said to have stirred thoughts about the party’s prospects in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections, as well as the impending panchayat polls and the BBMP elections this year.

Internal surveys are reported to have indicated a setback for the BJP, and the Sangh hence is likely to have a discussion regarding the same, especially with the recent ‘communally sensitive’ issues like the Hijab and Halal controversies, and the row over the text book revision said to have damaged the party’s chances in the state.

The Sangh is also said to be of the opinion that the state’s party leaders have failed to counter and effectively respond to the attacks by the opposition parties, especially former CM and CLP leader Siddharamaiah who has been taking on the BJP with great vigour, over the last few months.

Given Karnataka’s role in the party’s growth in the south, it is imperative for it to not lose control over what is called its ‘gateway to the south’.

The election bugle will be blown soon, say reports, with PM Narendra Modi and Aam Aadmi Party chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal all set to lead the campaigns of their respective parties starting August.

Meanwhile, Siddharamaiah has been projecting a show of strength, with the planned Siddharamotsava to mark his seventy-fifth birthday, being called a bash to mark his undisputed hold over the party, even amidst the visibly widening fissures over the two camps within the Congress.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is also likely to attend the event that is to mark Congress’s entry on the election campaign scene.

But the split within the Congress, on the other hand, could be one of the factors for a weakened opposition that could lead to a fractured mandate with JD(S) led by HD Kumaraswamy once again landing the role of a kingmaker.

Also Read: The Likely Outcome Of 'Gujarat 2022', Like The State's Politics Of Last Three Decades, Can Be Traced Back To Advani's Rath Yatra