With Lok Sabha elections just about a month away, we are decoding Karnataka’s political landscape at ‘NDTV Battleground’. We also discuss the challenges faced by the capital city Bengaluru, including water crisis, population explosion and issue of inadequate transportations system.
At ‘NDTV Battleground’, we discuss about state’s politics, growth, seat distribution in upcoming elections, challenges for the current government and the Opposition and much more.
Here are the highlights on ‘Battleground Karnataka’:
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Social Media’s Role In Politics
Social media plays critical role in influencing. All politicans are on Instagram, X, says Shraddha Sharma, YourStory Founder, CEO
BJP’s South Push
The narrative is that the BJP does not have a presence in south except Karnataka. In Tamil Nadu alone, the PM has made 26 visits between January and now. He has been consistently pursuing the cultural agenda, taken Sengol to new parliament. Rajinikanth is on his side. He took the Chinese president to Tamil Nadu. The kind of emphasis he has laid, says Mr Srinivasaraju.
Centre vs State Narrative
MLAs are unhappy because they are not getting funds. The budgetary allocation has stagnated or come down, says Sugata Srinivasaraju.
“Siddaramaiah’s guarantee is over. MLA are upset too. And people want Modi’s development. Modi has made sure every Indian has bank account, food on the table, health insurance etc. Deprivation is less. It is there on the ground. Jobs are there, but 80% of jobs pay less than Rs 20,000. South is job surplus. Internal migration has shifted,” says TV Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Arin Capital Partners
“What’s big today is that we are not in apologetic India. The young are looking at next 10 years. This is new India. Women and young India will vote confidently,” says Shraddha Sharma, YourStory founder, CEO.
“The narrative that opposition is trying to build is one about lack of jobs,” says Sugata Srinivasaraju.
However, he also added, “The Congress does not have a cultureal narrative or emotional connect. It makes a technocratic point. With BJP, they have Mandir, Modi, etc,” says Mr Srinivasaraju.
How young voters vote this time will be the precursor. Now there are more women voters. Now people want Modi ka guarantee, says TV Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Arin Capital Partners
“We embrace diversity. When I speak to Gen Z everyone is concerned about the future of the country. We need to shed this caste, class thing. They are angry against corruption. I hope ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ happens,” says Nooraine Fazal, founding CEO and managing trustee, inventure academy
The ‘Modi Factor’ In Karnataka
“Modi factor is key to BJP victory. They are bringing caste and class together. If you see their campaign, candidates say that you are voting for the PM not us. Congress is focusing on regional narrative,” says Sandeep Shashtri, Director -Academics, NITTE Education Trust and National Coordinator, Lokniti
Battleground On NDTV: “Politics Of Sub-Caste” In Karnataka
When it comes to Karnataka, there is politics of sub caste. Why BJP lost in 2023 is because Lingayats did not support them. There’s a very good reason why BS Yediyurappa was brought back, says Sugata Srinivasaraju, senior journalist and author.
“When it comes to India, Kannadigas want to see who will take India forward. There is cash politics in Karnataka. When it comes to national politics, Karnataka votes differently,” says TV Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Arin Capital Partners
Does Caste Factor Matter In Karnataka?
Karnataka is a caste centric state. BJP has now spread almost evenly across the state, says Sugata Srinivasaraju, senior journalist and author.
Decoding How Karnataka Votes
We are not thinking about cash, subsidies. Bengaluru welcomes everybody. Karnataka’s voting is how Indians are looking at the future. It is Richest in per capita terms, says TV Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Arin Capital Partners.
Karnataka And Its intricacies
That is entirely the wisdom of voters and is not limited to Karnataka. We need to see if it happens this time. This time the congress is in a reasonably better position. Avg victory vote share was 57% in Karnataka, says Sugata Srinivasaraju, senior journalist and author.
