Karnataka Elections: Game Changer or The Same Game

 

As the dates of Karnataka Legislative assembly polls is announced, all eyes are now set on the Tenth of May 2023. The State of Karnataka has a total of 224 seats in the legislative assembly, which is medium in size compared to Uttar Pradesh with total 404 seats. After a major political chaos in the state and breakdown of Coalition government in past Four Years. The Election commission, as schedule, announced fresh election.

Karnataka Polls have a direct connection with Lok Sabha Election 2024.

Politics in Karnataka

It is well known fact that Politics, at its very inception, requires a non religious or non caste involvement in its functioning but it is also a fact that caste politics happen in all forms and in all levels of politics. People have the habit of voting to one particular party who is in support with one particular caste.

The major game changing castes in Karnataka are 

1) Lingayats 2) Vokkaligas 3) Gowdas 4) SC's ST's and OBC's

The major political parties in Karnataka are

1) Bharatiya Janata Party 2) Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee 3) Janata Dala 

How does caste play in Karnataka Elections

Votes in Karnataka is highly predictable as the role of Caste plays in the core, The majority of people, unfortunately, cast their vote according to the caste of representatives in their constituency and when these representatives collectively form a party, It is obvious that certain set of people will vote for that party only,

In Karnataka, It is well known of the percentage of votes a party would gain because of its support to a particular group of people.

Magic Number 

Magic Number or the number of seats which a party must obtain to form a ruling government. In Karnataka is 113. 

The shocking development in Karnataka Politics from past elections is that

1) No party is able to cross Magic number to form a single Government.

2) Circumstances like those led to coalition governments.

3) In Coalition, Due to internal disturbance there was chief minstrel change twice in the state.

4) Frequent change in Coalition caused political chaos in the state.

Although Caste plays a vital role but it is also true that only caste politics will not secure maximum number of seats.

Game Changer or Same Game

The Karnataka Polls of 2023 might be a game changer or the same game because

1) people of Karnataka after 2018 results have seen a huge political turmoil and having learnt from it, People might vote not on the basis of caste or religion but on working and efficiency of their representatives. or

2) The same old politics prevails, which will lead to no single government and coalition government yet again.

K'taka polls connection to 2024 Lok Sabha polls

Karnataka is a state which has total of 28 seats for Parliamentary polls, 28 is a number which is not too large to be given much attention nor is it too small to be ignored.

Karnataka is the only state amongst five states in southern part of India which has the same ruling party as it is in center (NDA). So, NDA, in 2024, to get favorable result in south must ensure that the same government continues to stay in power in Karnataka after election in 2023.

As far as Congress in concerned, It is the game of survival, as there are few states run by congress. If congress wins K'taka polls, It will be advantageous for Lok Sabha Elections.

Thank You for your time.

Kishore Kulkarni

BA LLB Student