Karnataka assembly elections 2023: What are the major concerns

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Wednesday announced that the assembly elections in Karnataka will be held in a single phase on May 10, setting the stage for a key BJP versus Congress electoral fight ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha showdown.

Before the polls kick off, here are six major issues to look at:
Anti-Incumbency
BJP faces anti-incumbency in a state where no party has won consecutive terms in over 20 years. It’s trying to woo voters with outreach programmes. PM Modi, who had swung around the last LS poll in the state, has toured Karnataka extensively. Congress is banking on BJP’s “incumbency burden” and is confident that the corruption charges against its opponent will stick.

Reservation Rejig
Hoping to improve its prospects, the BJP government has increased quotas for SCs and STs by 2 and 4 percentage points, respectively, and for the two politically powerful and dominant castes – Lingayats and Vokkaligas – by 2 percentage points each. It is also in the process of implementing the Scheduled Castes’ long-pending demand for apportioning the quota among the Dalit castes. But Congress says the changes have come too late to sway voters.
Social Engineering

With Mallikarjuna Kharge, Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar at its helm, Congress is hoping to get the support of three major communities: the scheduled castes, Kurubas,and Vokkaligas. It also believes Muslims, who make up 11-12% of Karnataka’s population, are with it. BJP, while keeping its pro-Lingayat base united, is trying hard to win over the Vokkaligas, who vote JD(S) and Congress. It has also tried to extend Hindu consolidation beyond coastal Karnataka. But former PM HD Deve Gowda’s JD-S is confident the Vokkaligas will rally behind it, giving it over 30 seats and helping him play the kingmaker yet again.

Congress’ Guarantees
Taking a cue from its success in Himachal Pradesh, Congress has promised a monthly dole to farmers, unemployed graduates and families headed by women, and also free electricity and grains to voters. BJP calls this fiscal imprudence.

Development Work
PM Modi and Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai have been on an inauguration spree in the past three months. The PM has visited Karnataka at least eight times since January to inaugurate about 50 development projects. New projects amounting to Rs 1 lakh crore – including the Rs 8,500-crore Mysuru-Bengaluru Expressway – have been inaugurated or dedicated to the people in various districts. Even half-done projects have been launched.

Freebies
Enticing voters with freebies isn’t new, but it’s happening at a different level in Karnataka this time. Television sets, smartphones, grinders, and even insurance policies are on offer as parties go all out to curry favour with voters.