That the Congress won Karnataka was no fluke. It took many sets of hands to build the victory, but the two that were most callused belonged to Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar. The two united, setting aside their longstanding rivalry and power tussle, to land their party a memorable win.
Siddaramaiah’s mass appeal combined with Shivakumar’s ability to organise men and money helped defeat the mighty Modi-Shah juggernaut. Their bonhomie, in fact, was the main reason the Congress won. The BJP was expecting them to undercut each other’s efforts and sabotage the party’s campaign. For a while, it looked that way. In July, when the leadership crisis was at its peak, Rahul Gandhi held a closed-door meeting with the two leaders in Delhi and asked them to “work together” under a “collective leadership”. And so they did.
If master strategist Shivakumar beefed up the numbers in south Karnataka with his emotional appeal to fellow Vokkaligas to help him become chief minister, Siddaramaiah launched a fierce attack on the BJP and its alleged corruption. He called the Basavaraj Bommai government a “40 per cent commission sarkar” and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “tolerating” corruption. The “PayCM” campaign, with Bommai’s face on a QR code, was especially catchy.
Apparently, Shivakumar’s Mekedatu padyatra in the Vokkaliga belt helped not only in winning over the community, but also in energising the cadre in the Old Mysuru region.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 28, 2023-Ausgabe von THE WEEK India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 28, 2023-Ausgabe von THE WEEK India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock