2024 Parliamentary Election: Whither Opposition and Congress?

The Parliamentary election 2024 is only a couple of months away and the nation is experiencing a new kind of election fever which we have not seen except in 1977, the post-Emergency Parliamentary election. Then, as expected, the newly cobbled up Opposition parties, under the dynamic and well-accepted leadership of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan (JP)  called Janata Party, took on the Congress party and won.

The present BJP in its older avatar at that time known as Bharatiya Jana Sangh was almost an apology of a political party compared to its other partners namely Congress (O), Socialist Party of India (of Raj Narain and George Fernandes), Bharatiya Lok Dal (of Charan Singh, who was posthumously given Bharat Ratna this year) and Swatantra Party (of C. Rajagopalachari and ‎Minoo Masani). Together, these parties, which were a part of Janata Morcha, a political movement known as ‘Total Revolution’ led by Jayaprakash Narayan, became  Janata Party.

During the election campaign, Indira Gandhi called this Janata Party as a ‘strange animal’ and a ‘khichdi’ party without any political or moral principles. She called the Janata Party as an ‘opportunistic party.’ Indira Gandhi was prophetic in her utterances and tirade against the Janata Party. The Janata Party which won the election and formed the government soon came apart as its Central leadership could not hold those disparate parties together with each party asserting its own political and economic ideology. Naturally, things fall apart when Centre cannot hold.

Leaders of these coalition political parties were too ambitious to become Prime Ministers and looking for an excuse, no matter how frivolous it was. A replay of a similar political acrobatics was seen when Rajiv Gandhi was defeated in 1989 and V.P. Singh became the Prime Minister poisoning the nation with Mandal Commission. Its pernicious effect on our country’s earlier healthy reservation policy is impacting on our society even now.

Before Mandal Commission,  the evil of caste system was just an undercurrent in electoral politics. But thereafter it brazenly surfaced in the elections throwing up many caste-based satraps in States like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. No wonder we are hearing the hoarse voices for caste census which will surely perpetuate caste system for all time to come as long as there is electoral politics in our country.

If anyone is to be blamed for this anti-social development, it is our politicians who strut around calling for the abolition of the caste system, but doing nothing about it. We are marching towards an age of reason and societal enlightenment where socially every citizen is of equal status, mutually respected and treated with dignity. But see, what our politicians have done. Their greed for power has seared the souls of the socially discriminated and deprived sections of our citizens. Therefore, we need no more political leaders now. There are enough of them. The need of the hour is for social reformers like Mahatma Gandhi, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, Subramania Bharati, Swami Vivekananda, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Dayananda Saraswati, Narayana Guru and others.

However, unless the caste factor with its identities is erased from electoral politics, we will never have a fair and free election. Therefore, we need tall social reformers who will reform our politicians  to eschew caste factor in elections completely. Is it an utopian idea?

Be that as it may, let us take a peek into the election that is at our doors. As I mentioned, the Opposition coalition in the past, in 1977 and 1989, won the election. To that extent at least it was a successful political strategy, though it committed harakiri soon after forming the government.

But see what is happening to  a similar coalition launched to face the BJP (rather Modi!) in the 2024 election. The I.N.D.I. Alliance is a still-born baby. Look at the way I.N.D.I. Alliance is coming apart, exploding. It is said that the strength of a chain depends on its weakest link. But here it seems all its links are weak except the one —Congress! And Congress itself seems to be at large, its Prime Ministerial candidate walking the Indian Roads in all directions on a journey to nowhere.

An angry young man, who had the audacity to tear to smithereens his own UPA government’s notification at a press conference in Delhi, he is going to take on Modi in 2024 Parliamentary elections alone, like a One-Man Army without foot soldiers. And worse that his high-ranking officers are deserting him one after the other. Yesterday’s Deccan Herald had given a list of them by name with an apt sub-heading “Never-ending list” and at the last count there were 34 and still counting.

Well, but “Who is afraid of Virginia Wolf?” Or “Who is afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” Not Rahul Gandhi, of course. Among those who deserted the sinking Congress Boat are many honourable, loyal Congressmen like for example Supreme Court Advocate Kapil Sibal, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Amarinder Singh,  Jyotiraditya Scindia and Milind Deora. Yes, others might have left to save their skin from ED.

However, should Congress High Command lose these senior honchos at a critical time of Parliamentary election? No. Rahul Gandhi’s great-grandfather Nehru or his grandmother Indira Gandhi and even his father Rajiv Gandhi (who spoke in a public meeting in Mumbai about ending the evil of power-brokers in Congress and then compromised) would not have allowed these stalwarts to leave the party? Didn’t Nehru stop Gen. K.S. Thimayya from resigning despite V.K. Krishna Menon? But Rahul has guts. He simply shunned these people with a ‘Couldn’t care for you’ attitude saying “People who are leaving tomorrow, should go today itself.”

Now over to the 2024 Parliamentary election.

e-mail: voice@starofmysore.com

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With none from JD(S) first family to contest from Mandya

Bengaluru: While independent Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambarish has been making rounds to Delhi and meeting top BJP national leaders, expressing her intent to contest on a BJP ticket from Mandya, former PM and JD(S) Supremo H.D. Deve Gowda held a meeting with the party’s top brass to discuss the possible candidate.

It is a known fact that JD(S), having a strong base in Mandya, will want to field its candidate from Mandya. The party, which has officially joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has demanded the Mandya seat as part of its seat-sharing pact for the upcoming polls.

However, the final decision on seat sharing is yet to be made official. Meanwhile, former PM H.D. Deve Gowda has indirectly sent a message to the BJP High Command about his party’s intent to contest from Mandya Lok Sabha Constituency.

The meeting, held in Bengaluru yesterday, was attended by JD(S) Core Committee President and Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda, JD(S) Youth Wing President Nikhil Kumaraswamy, former Ministers C.S. Puttaraju, D.C. Thammanna, MLA H.T. Manjunath, former MLA Ravindra Srikanthaiah, Suresh Gowda, and Dr. Annadani, former MLC K.T. Srikantegowda and Mandya District JD(S) President Ramesh.

Deve Gowda also collected vital information from the local leaders during which former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy (HDK), who has been touring the Mandya district, also shared some information. The leaders, who have been insisting on fielding a candidate from the Deve Gowda family, especially Nikhil Kumaraswamy or H.D. Kumaraswamy, expressed confidence about the party candidate’s victory.

However, sources said that if none from the Deve Gowda family were interested in contesting, former Minister C.S. Puttaraju, who had earlier represented the Mandya seat between 2014 and 2018, would be an ideal candidate.

The JD(S) patriarch seems to have also instructed the leaders to ensure the previous Lok Sabha election result was not repeated when the JD(S) candidate was defeated despite having an election pact with the Congress party.

Nikhil not to contest, HDK reluctant

Nikhil has already expressed his desire not to contest and former CM Kumaraswamy has also told the media persons about his disinterest in going to Delhi.

With both leaders not interested in contesting, it is almost certain that Puttaraju would be the party’s candidate.

Later, speaking to the media persons, H.D. Deve Gowda said: “Nikhil will not contest since he will be touring the State for the election campaign and Kumaraswamy will decide on his contesting. Meanwhile, none from the family will be contesting from Mandya. However, the candidate will be announced in the next meeting,” he said.

‘Star’ Chandru to contest on Congress ticket?

Meanwhile, the Congress party seems to have finalised the candidature of industrialist ‘Star’ Chandru (Venkataramane Gowda) from Mandya at a meeting headed by Agriculture and Mandya District in-Charge Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy at a private hotel yesterday. Chandru, a native of Nagamangala, is the brother of Gowribidanur Independent MLA Puttaswamy Gowda and a relative of Chikkaballapur MP B.N. Bacchegowda.

MLAs Ravikumar (Ganiga), P.M. Narendraswamy, Darshan Puttannaiah, Kadalur M. Uday, Ramesh Babu Bandisiddegowda, K. Harishgowda, MLCs Dinesh Gooligowda, Madhu G. Madegowda and others  were present.

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Mysore/Mysuru: In response to the BJP’s ‘Once Again Modi-2024’ wall-writing campaign, the Congress has launched its initiative titled ‘Mundilla Modi-2024’ (No Next Modi-2024), spearheaded by former MLA M.K. Somashekar. The campaign was inaugurated by Somashekar at Ramaswamy Circle on Friday.

Addressing the media after the launch, Somashekar wryly commented, “Former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa recently initiated the ‘Once Again Modi-2024’ wall writing campaign in the city. By doing so, he is urging voters to support Modi, despite widespread opposition from various sectors of society, including the poor and middle class, and amidst concerns about the country’s financial stability.”

Somashekar criticised the current political discourse, noting that discussions around temples, religion, and emotions have overshadowed important issues. He accused Modi of attempting to enforce unilateral rule while neglecting pressing issues such as hunger, poverty and unemployment.

Commenting on the BJP’s efforts to bolster Modi’s image through the wall-writing campaign, Somashekar emphasised the disconnect between the party’s propaganda and the reality faced by ordinary citizens. He claimed that the people are eager to remove Modi from office, as evidenced by the lack of enthusiasm for the ‘Modi Once Again’ narrative. KPCC Spokesman H.A. Venkatesh criticised Modi’s policies, arguing that they failed to address the needs of the people. He contrasted Modi’s lack of tangible benefits for the populace with the state government’s guarantee schemes.

Prominent party functionaries including President of Krishnaraja Block Congress G. Somashekar, former Mayors T.B. Chikkanna and Pushpalatha T.B. Chikkanna, former Corporator J. Gopi, Gunashekar, NSUI City President N. Manoj and others were present.

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Mysore/Mysuru: BJP City (District) Yuva Morcha has lodged a complaint against Congress party with City Police Commissioner B. Ramesh, for erecting a hoarding with a morphed image of Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simmha portraying him as a terrorist in the wake of security breach at New Parliament House in Delhi, that amounts to provocation of communities.

The BJP Yuva Morcha workers led by their City President M.J. Kiran Kumar, who handed over the complaint copy to the City Police Chief at the latter’s office in Nazarbad here yesterday, said “BJP not just condemns the incident of causing security breach and creating a ruckus at the Parliament House, but also has demanded a probe into it. But for the only reason of issuing a pass from Simmha’s Office, the hoarding with a morphed image of Simmha, holding arms and ammunition, was put up to flare up communal tensions. Hence, the miscreants among Congress who have been indulging in provocative activities should be arrested.”

Speaking to media persons, Kiran Kumar said “The accused persons who barged into the Parliament gallery have been already arrested and the probe is on.  However, it is condemnable on the part of Congress to collect signatures by keeping the morphed hoarding in public.”

If one sees into the information available with a few Congress leaders, that couldn’t be accessed even by the Investigation Officers (IO), it gives rise to suspicion about their handiwork in the whole episode. It is no more a secret that Uttar Pradesh native already arrested in the case was previously associated with All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) party, which is a part of I.N.D.I.A alliance of Opposition parties.

At the outset, it is believed that Congress leaders may have instigated Manoranjan, the accused from Mysuru to accomplish their ulterior motive. What adds further credence to the possibilities of Congress being hand in glove with the accused is the way they called a press meet and shared the information of the accused in the case, explained Kiran Kumar.

MP Simmha had issued a pass to Manoranjan, for the only reason that he was a voter from Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha  Constituency. Barring this, Simmha had no other intention and is nowhere related to the case of security breach at the Parliament. In view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, a conspiracy is being hatched against him (Simmha), said Kiran Kumar.

The Karnataka State Government, which is riddled in corruption, is tweaking the case to its advantage only to save its face in the wake of recent female foeticide racket, IT raid and irregularities in recruitment drives. But the public should be aware of what is true and lie, said Kiran Kumar.

State BJP Yuva Morcha Vice-President Jayshankar, Chamaraja President Somashekar, Raitha Morcha President Devaraj, Chamaraja BJP Yuva Morcha President Sachin Gowda, Yuva Morcha leaders Santosh Kumar, Karthik Mariyappa, Puneeth Kumar, Hemanth Gowda, JCB Ravi, Paduvarahalli Yoga, Anooj, Raghu, Arun, Arjun Kumar and Harish Kumar were present.

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Mysore/Mysuru: The Congress party in Mysuru has intensified its criticism of Mysuru-Kodagu BJP MP Pratap Simmha, accusing him of facilitating visitor passes for the intruders who breached Parliament security on Wednesday.

Former MLA Dr. Yathindra Siddharamaiah has called for an inquiry into Pratap Simmha’s actions, proposing his suspension and a thorough investigation.

Yathindra emphasised that the incident has instilled fear among the people, suggesting a significant security lapse and the potential for a larger conspiracy.

Congress leaders are demanding a probe by a sitting Supreme Court Judge, expressing a                                                              lack of faith in other investigative agencies, including the CBI, according to B.J. Vijaykumar, president of Mysuru District Congress Rural Committee.

KPCC spokesperson M. Lakshmana echoed the call for an inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court judge. During a press conference in Mysuru, Lakshmana urged Pratap Simmha to clarify the matter, questioning the silence of BJP leaders, typically prompt in responding to media queries. Lakshmana expressed relief that no member of the minority community was implicated in the security breach, speculating on potential exploitation by the BJP. He alleged that Manoranjan unofficially handled Simmha’s social media account and called for thorough investigation into the incident, suggesting seizure of MP’s office.

Simmha has three offices and that the arrested Manoranjan may have had meetings with the MP in either of these locations, said Lakshmana emphasised the national security implications and insisted on a Supreme Court judge leading the investigation.

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Congress ahead in Telangana; results a crucial prelude to 2024 LS polls

New Delhi: Five hours into the counting of votes for Assembly polls in four States this morning, the BJP is comfortably leading in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. The Congress is ahead in Telangana, marking its sole consolation in this round of State polls.

These four Assembly polls are seen as a semi-final to Lok Sabha elections, occurring months before the significant battle. While Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana voted in a single phase, the elections in Chhattisgarh were held in two phases. Counting of votes in all four States began with the initial count of postal ballots, followed by counting votes from the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Mizoram’s vote counting for the Assembly Elections 2023 was initially set for Dec. 3 but was postponed to Dec. 4, as Sunday holds special significance for the people of Mizoram, a Christian-majority State.

Both the BJP and the Congress had framed issues with the general elections in mind. The BJP, which had won Gujarat and Tripura but suffered defeats in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, needs victories under its belt to build momentum leading up to the Lok Sabha polls. 

The Congress, on the other hand, is desperate to win a couple of states, hoping it would give them an upper hand in seat-sharing talks with allies of the I.N.D.I.A bloc.

Indications of early trends 

In Madhya Pradesh, which was expected to see a close contest, the BJP has a clear advantage.

The party has surged far ahead of Congress in early trends. Results in Rajasthan align with exit poll predictions of a BJP victory, with the party comfortably leading over the ruling Congress. Final result may follow the State’s trend of not re-electing a party.

With BJP leading in counting of votes for Madhya Pradesh (MP) Assembly polls, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday said, people have blessed the party’s “double-engine” Govt. at the Centre & in the State because of its welfare and development policies.

In Telangana, Congress hopes that the current trends continue, as the party is significantly ahead of the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi that has been governing the State since its formation in 2014. Chhattisgarh, which initially appeared to be leaning towards the Congress in early trends, turned into a neck-and-neck fight and has now shifted in favour of BJP. The trends so far have also revealed surprises in terms of individual performance. Chief Minister and BRS Chief K. Chandrashekar Rao is trailing in his stronghold Kamareddy. Also trailing was Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel in Patan, but he has now taken a lead.

Results in MP will hugely disappoint Congress, which threw its weight behind former CM Kamal Nath, hoping for victory. In fact, posters proclaiming Nath’s victory had come up even before the counting began. Speaking to media this morning, Nath expressed confidence in a Congress win, stating that he had not seen the trends and neither does he want to.

In Rajasthan, infighting within Congress camps led by CM Ashok Gehlot and his former Deputy Sachin Pilot, may have impacted the party’s prospects in several seats despite its attempts for a united front. Telangana result has once again shown how projecting local leaders works in favour of Congress. Learning from its victory in Karnataka, Congress leadership fully supported the State Party Chief Revanth Reddy & that decision appears to have paid off.

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Women candidates to be fielded in one third of total 28 Parliamentary Constituencies in the State

Bengaluru: Congress party, which is leaving no stone unturned to wrest power from ruling BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha (LS) elections, is keen on wooing women voters by implementing 33 percent reservation for women while picking up the candidates.

The party is involved in the process of fielding women candidates in eight to nine Constituencies of the total 28 LS seats in the State including Bengaluru North, Belagavi, Bagalkot, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Dharwad to name a few.

With BJP naming Shikaripura MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, son of former Chief Minister and Lingayat strongman B.S. Yediyurappa as State BJP President and JD(S) entering into an alliance with BJP, Congress that was pinning hopes on making a comeback has suffered a jolt in its pace of executing the plans.

During the previous Parliamentary elections held in the year 2019, Congress was reduced to one seat against the total 28 LS seats in the State. Now, the party is hoping to make strides by winning not less than 20 seats.

Congress, which is looking for alternatives to offset the possibilities of BJP-JD(S) truck gaining an edge and State BJP President’s post going for the leader of a Veerashaiva-Lingayat community that has a large vote base in the State, has been planning to allot 33 percent of seats to women candidates in the forthcoming LS elections scheduled to be held in a few months.

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Maddur: Distinguished personality and former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna articulated his views on the selection of Chief Ministers and the challenges confronting democracy. He voiced his apprehensions about the practice of appointing CMs based on caste considerations, contending that such a practice undermines democratic principles and equality. Instead, he emphasised the imperative of selecting Chief Ministers based on their qualifications, accomplishments, dedication to social justice and unwavering commitment to the principles of justice.

Krishna addressed a gathering of supporters and the public at a private event held at a hotel in Maddur yesterday during which he underscored that aspiring to a five-year term as the Chief Minister is not a desirable goal and should not be the primary focus. He stated, “Leadership should be decided on the possession of the right attributes and merit rather than one’s caste background. A more inclusive and merit-based approach to political leadership is the need of the hour.”

Krishna also delved into the issue of corruption, highlighting its potential to erode the foundation of democracy. He stressed the significance of upholding integrity not only in those who hold political office but also in those who engage with the political process. He recognised that the future of democracy hinges on the purity of intentions among all stakeholders.

Krishna also disclosed his decision to refrain from actively endorsing or involving his family members in politics or the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. “My children are pursuing their own interests and I have no intention of compelling them to enter politics. I firmly believe that individuals should enter the political arena driven by their personal determination and commitment rather than external pressure,” he added.

With his retirement from active politics, Krishna made it unequivocally clear that he has no intent of participating in the campaign for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, underscoring his disinterest in political engagement.

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Bengaluru: Amidst ongoing speculation of a Congress leadership change in Karnataka, fuelled by a power struggle between Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and his Deputy, D.K. Shivakumar, the ruling Congress party is actively engaging with leaders from both the BJP and JD(S) as part of its preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

This development underscores the Congress party’s strategic advantage over the BJP, which is yet to name its leader in the State Legislative Assembly and its State Unit President. The Congress appears to be countering the BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ by pursuing its own ‘Operation Hasta’. In this operation, the Congress is both preventing the migration of its leaders to the BJP and actively poaching MLAs from the saffron party.

According to sources, several BJP MLAs, including S.T. Somashekar, Shivaram Hebbar and six others, are set to resign from the BJP and relinquish their MLA positions to join the Congress on Nov. 10. 

It’s worth noting that a group of MLAs, including S.T. Somashekar and Shivaram Hebbar, played a role in the collapse of the Congress-JD(S) Government led by H.D. Kumaraswamy. Now, in a replay of the past some members of that group are expected to rejoin the Congress.

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Mysore/Mysuru: With the Congress leadership appointing him as a Minister in the first round alongside party veterans, Chittapur MLA Priyank Kharge, now holding the influential IT, BT, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) portfolios, stands as one of the top leaders in Karnataka Congress.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru this morning, Priyank Kharge shared his aspiration to become the Chief Minister. He stated, “Whether Chief Minister Siddharamaiah continues in power as CM or if D.K. Shivakumar assumes the CM role for 2.5 years, these are their personal opinions. The ultimate decision rests with the Congress High Command. Everyone, from Zilla Panchayat members to MLAs, has the freedom to express their views and there’s nothing wrong with that.” Surprisingly he added, “I, too, aspire to become the Chief Minister. If the High Command chooses me, it, I would gladly take on the role and there’s nothing inappropriate about that.”

Priyank Kharge also criticised the BJP, questioning the absence of effective Opposition in the State. He pointed out that the BJP leaders have diminished in stature and humorously suggested that, instead of merely criticising the Congress, the Opposition could have served the State better by making their voices heard before the central leadership.

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