Can it decisively wrest power from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) whose challenge is weakened by anti-incumbency and the lack of a pan-Karnataka face after BS Yediyurappa's semiretirement? More importantly, will the outcome be decisive the way it was in 2013? Or will the electorate throw up a fractured verdict like in 2018?
None among the three principal contestants, including the Janata Dal (Secular), have clearcut answers to these questions. The Congress indeed is the only party to have secured a clear majority in recent decades to form governments under Kuruba leader Siddaramaiah in 2013 and the Vokkaliga icon of yesteryear, SM Krishna in 1999.
The Congress's hope of a return to power has its genesis in internal seat projections ranging from 106-121, according to a party functionary privy to in-house parleys. As an upfront claimant to the chief minister's office, Siddaramaiah's boast of a 130-plus tally in an interview to this newspaper, is based on his own assessment and that of election strategist Sunil Kanugolu. The latter's inputs were generously used by the leadership in candidate selection.
Be that as it may, it's difficult to wager on the post-2014 Congress that has mastered the art of letting the cup slip from the lip! From appearing to be a sure winner a couple of months ahead of the 2022 Punjab elections, it sank to a distant second in the Aam Aadmi Party's landslide win. The sole exception to that rule since Narendra Modi's emergence on the national scene was Himachal Pradesh where a localised campaign paid off.
Denne historien er fra May 05, 2023-utgaven av Hindustan Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 05, 2023-utgaven av Hindustan Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Palestinian PM Resigns Citing 'New Reality' Of War In Gaza
The United States and other powers have called for a reformed Palestinian Authority to take charge of all Palestinian territories after the end of war
Future Perfect: The Kids Are All Right
Gill and Jurel hold out promise by simplifying a challenging chase to help India seal series
Akshay feels 'blessed' to have worked with OG Ramayan cast
Director Akshay K Agarwal shot a music video, Humare Ram Aaye Hai, with the cast of the 1987 TV show, Ramayanactors Arun Govil, Dipika Chikhlia and Sunil Lahri - in Ayodhya recently.
Musk's firm gets nod for Sat Net; joins Jio, Bharti
Starlink, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has been allowed to offer satellite broadband services in India, two officials aware of the development said.
A temple, 169 years in the making
Through decades of design and reworks, hurdles in engineering and construction, HT pieces together how the grandeur of the Ram Temple was reclaimed
'Political interference' forces Vihari to quit Andhra cricket
After Andhra bowed out of the Ranji Trophy at the quarter-final stage with a four-run defeat to Madhya Pradesh in Indore on Monday, senior batter Hanuma Vihari launched a scathing attack on the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA), saying he will never turn up for the state again.
Shafali, Kapp lead Capitals to a 9-wicket win over Warriorz
A blazing fifty by Shafali Verma (64₹, 43 balls) helped Delhi Capitals make a mockery of a target of 120 and open their account in the second edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL).
Making 'unbelievable things believable', the Ayhika way
The India No. 7 was an inspired pick for the world team event and she repaid the faith, beating the Chinese world No.1
'Connected TVs to reach 45 mn by 2024-end in India'
With improvement in broadband penetration, Indian households are increasingly opting for connected or addressable TVs.
India chip strategy makes progress as $21 billion in proposals received
The Indian government, after years of watching from the sidelines of the chips race, now has to evaluate $21 billion of semiconductor proposals and divvy up taxpayer support between foreign chipmakers, local champions or some combination of the two.