Author: Vivek Gumaste
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: May 30, 2008
Apart from breaching the symbolic barrier
of the North-South divide by expanding its influence across the Vindhyas,
the BJP, with its electoral victory in Karnataka, has also validated certain
important facets of its appeal: An acceptability that cuts across regions,
demolishes caste barriers and one that reaches into the remotest rural hinterland
of the State.
For a party that once barely saw its sway
extend beyond urban Bangalore or the educated elite, the BJP has come a long
way. In 1967, when noted poet Gopalkrishna Adiga managed a second place against
former Congress Chief Minister Kengal Hanumanthaiya in the Bangalore parliamentary
constituency, it was considered a victory of sorts for the party, then known
as Bharatiya Jana Sangh. The Legislative Council election on occasion did
land the party a consolation seat or two.
In comparison, in this Assembly election,
of the 173 rural constituencies, the BJP garnered 81 with a success rate of
47 per cent. Straggling way behind was the Congress with 35 per cent and the
so-called farmer's party, the JD (S), finished at the bottom with a measly
14 per cent. Moreover, 74 per cent of the BJP's seats have come from rural
constituencies.
If seen along caste lines, the BJP has the
largest representation from the Scheduled Castes/Tribes. This can help erase
the myth that it is an upper caste party. Of the 51 seats reserved for SC/ST
candidates, the BJP has bagged 29 seats -- clearly ahead of the Congress that
could win only 17 seats. The JD(S) ended with a paltry two seats.
With this election, the BJP has reached all
corners of the State. The party has proved to be the leader in three of the
four major regions of Karnataka, winning 35 of 48 seats in the Bombay-Karnataka
region, 19 of 40 seats in Hyderabad-Karnataka and 21 of 32 seats in the west.
In south Karnataka -- once considered the bastion of the JD(S) -- the BJP
has fared better than Mr HD Deve Gowda's party but finished behind the Congress.
In the midst of the BJP's euphoria, the inevitable
question is sure to surface: What about the minorities, especially Muslims?
While the BJP has raised development and security issues in the Assembly election,
Muslim support remains elusive; this is not good for the community.