Karnataka Elections 2023: Issues and challenges before all political parties
July 13, 2025
  • Read Ecopy
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • International
  • Opinion
  • Op Sindoor
  • More
    • Analysis
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Special Report
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • G20
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Vocal4Local
    • Web Stories
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
MAGAZINE
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • International
  • Opinion
  • Op Sindoor
  • More
    • Analysis
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Special Report
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • G20
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Vocal4Local
    • Web Stories
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
Organiser
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Operation Sindoor
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • International Edition
  • RSS in News
  • Magazine
  • Read Ecopy
Home Bharat

Karnataka Elections 2023: Issues and challenges before all political parties

As Karnataka is all set for legislative elections in May this year, factors like the demand for reservation, anti-incumbency and various other controversies will make this election quite interesting

by Manohar Yadavatti
Feb 22, 2023, 09:40 am IST
in Bharat, Opinion
FacebookTwitterWhatsAppTelegramEmail

Karnataka, the only State in South India boasting of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government ruling on its own, is all set for Assembly elections before May 2023, as the tenure of the 15th Assembly is scheduled to be over on May 24, 2023. The present predicament haunting the BJP is whether it will be able to retain the lone bastion below the Vindhya mountainous range.

No majority so far

Karnataka has not been a cakewalk for the BJP. In the 2004, 2008 and 2013 Assembly elections, the BJP could not emerge as the single largest party. It has always taken the support of regional outfits such as Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) to come to power. Likewise, even in 2018, the BJP failed to make it on its own, thus paving the way for a Janata Dal-Secular party-led and Indian National Congress (INC) supported regime under HD Kumarswamy. In July 2019, BS Yeddyurappa became the Chief Minister for the fourth time with defection by 14 Congress and three JDS MLAs. He unseated himself on July 28, 2021, paving the way for Basavaraj Bommai to take over the reigns as his successor.

Anti-incumbency factor

Since 1978, the people of the State have adhered to the policy of ousting the party in power, thus benefitting the opposition parties. From 2004 onwards, the State has also been manifesting a split verdict, thereby leading to a hung Assembly. And on all these occasions, the JDS, with mere 30-40 seats in a hung house with a total strength of 224, has managed to become the king rather than playing the role of a king-maker. This time around, it has again soured relations with both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. As they keep saying, “Politics make strange bedfellows’, nothing can be ruled out post elections and in the event of a hung Assembly. Notwithstanding, the anti-incumbency factor is bound to have an impact.

Reservation controversy

According a separate minority status to the Veerashiva Lingayat community became a bone of contention during the 2018 polls. This was also portrayed as one of the major issues responsible for the drubbing of the then-ruling party, Congress. These days, the Panchamashalis, a peasant sub-sect of the Veerashiva-Lingayats, has been agitating, demanding reservation under the 2 A category.

The Basavaraj Bommai Government initially tried to underplay the reservation agitation, and attempts were made to create a rift among the concerned pontiffs. However, the movement continues, and the State Government’s measure of pacifying both the Veerashiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas, the strong 00 peasant class of the old Mysuru region, by hiking the reservation quota misfired. The Karnataka High Court has ordered status quo, preventing the Government from going ahead with the enhanced reservation. Kurubas, the single largest Other Backward Class (OBC) community, is demanding the ST tag, and so are the different sections of the society like Kshatriyas and Reddys among others.

A lesson for rebels

The defection of 14 Congress and three JDS MLAs is bound to become another poll issue in their respective constituencies. Except for AH Vishwanath, former state JDS president, who was humbled in his Hunsur constituency in Mysuru district, most of the others managed to swim against the tide in the subsequent elections. Both Congress and JDS leaders are sharpening their political weapons to teach the party deserters a big lesson.

CD Racket

Belagavi district politics is riddled with politicians-cum-sugar factory owners, irrespective of parties. Among the notables are the Jarkiholi brothers Ramesh, Satish and Balachandra. Satish is the state Congress Working President while Ramesh lost his ministerial position, due to the sex CD racket. He did everything to return to the Cabinet, but in vain. He has become infamous over the CD case in the district, and the issue is expected to have its own impact on the district outcome.

Tussle for CM post in Congress

From a public perspective, both KPCC president DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, leader of the opposition in the State Assembly, present a united pose by raising hands together. These days, the fact that both of them continue to nurture the dream of getting the coveted CM’s post is no longer a public secret. Siddaramaiah’s ploy of ensuring the defeat of Dr G Parameshwara, former KPCC president in his native Koratagere constituency of Tumakuru district, in 2018 has spread across the State by word of mouth.

So, the Dalits’ strategy is to defeat Siddaramaiah from wherever he contests.

JDS dreams of becoming the king again

Meanwhile, HD Kumaraswamy, twice Chief Minister, is again daydreaming of becoming one for the third time though a handful of his legislators are already planning to desert the party.

Topics: KPCC president iKarnataka Elections 2023Veerashiva Lingayat communityHD KumaraswamyJDS dreams of becoming the king againCM post in CongressKarnataka BJP GovernmentBharatiya Janata Party
Share2TweetSendShareSend
✮ Subscribe Organiser YouTube Channel. ✮
✮ Join Organiser's WhatsApp channel for Nationalist views beyond the news. ✮
Previous News

Fake news about RSS: FIR filed against 3 media houses, which claimed RSS to build HQ on 100 acres of land in Ayodhya

Next News

Maoist couple with a reward of Rs 10 lakhs arrested in Telangana

Related News

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi

Karnataka: BJP to challenge Congress govt’s “unconstitutional” Muslim quota in housing

PM Narendra Modi

PM Modi to mark one year of BJP government in Odisha with mega rally and development push in Bhubaneswar

Assam BJP sweeps Panchayat Elections

Assam Panchayat Polls: BJP-Led alliance register splendid win; Congress wiped out

BJP Supporters (File Image)

Assam Panchayat Elections: BJP-Led NDA scores landslide victory; Opposition routed

(Left) BJP State General Secretary M.T. Ramesh addresses the protest in Kozhikode district (Right) While BJP South Zone President K. Soman files a complaint with the Chengannur Deputy Superintendent of Police as part of the protest in Alappuzha district

Kerala: BJP demands ouster of 104 Pakistanis from the state; Slams left Govt over Pahalgam attack links

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy

“Even if you cut me up, Telangana won’t earn more”: CM Revanth Reddy makes admission of bankruptcy

Load More

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

India successfully test-fires Astra missile with indigenous radio frequency seeker and unveils DRDO’s Mounted Gun System

Twin defence triumph for Bharat: Indigenous Astra missile and mounted gun system successfully tested

Kapil Sibal

Kapil Sibal citizenship argument stirs controversy: Claims burden to prove illegality lies on State, not individuals

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (Photo: X, Devendra Fadnavis)

Maharashtra clears “Special Public Security Bill”: All you need to know

Vedic sages’ legacy can inspire Bharat’s scientific self reliance

Revisiting ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ in the Preamble: Reclaiming India's Constitutional Integrity

Revisiting ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ in the Preamble: Reclaiming India’s Constitutional Integrity

From Left: Freedom Fight Veer Savarkar, Congress leader and former MP Rahul Gandhi

Savarkar Defamation Case: Rahul Gandhi pleads ‘Not guilty’ in London speech row, to face criminal trial now

Is ‘going rural’ a fantasy?

Chhangur Baba alias Jamaluddin’s Rs 100 cr Islamic conversion racket in UP

Balrampur: Jamaluddin who ran multi-crore religious conversion racket referred to Hindu women as ‘Projects’

Book review| India and Taiwan: A reality check

Tamil Nadu: HC slams IAS officers for failing to evict Church-run school from temple lands in Cuddalore for 50 years

Tamil Nadu: HC slams IAS officers for failing to evict Church-run school from temple lands in Cuddalore for 50 years

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

  • Home
  • Search Organiser
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • North America
    • South America
    • Europe
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • Operation Sindoor
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Entertainment
  • More ..
    • Sci & Tech
    • Vocal4Local
    • Special Report
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Politics
    • Law
    • Economy
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
  • Subscribe Magazine
  • Read Ecopy
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Policies & Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Refund and Cancellation
    • Terms of Use

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies