KALABURAGI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to launch the national campaign from Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district was a strategic move, aimed at making a statement on the home turf of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, whose constituency falls under the Gulbarga Lok Sabha seat.
At the time, with none of the parties having finalized their candidate lists, speculation was rife regarding Kharge’s candidacy. Having suffered his first electoral defeat since 1972 in the previous Lok Sabha elections, there were doubts whether Kharge would contest again.
Ultimately, Kharge, an 81-year-old Rajya Sabha member, opted out of the race, marking a significant departure from his longstanding presence on Congress’s candidate lists for both assembly and parliamentary elections in Gulbarga.
Kharge’s decision not to contest is seen as a significant development, impacting not only the optics for Congress but also for the coalition of opposition parties — INDIA — which he played a key role in forming. Some members of INDIA even touted Kharge as a potential prime ministerial candidate to challenge Modi. Local Congress insiders speculate that Kharge’s decision, against the backdrop of Modi’s challenge and BJP’s victory in Gulbarga in 2019, could further dent the party’s image in the region.
However, Karnataka minister and Kharge’s son, Priyank, explained, “His decision not to contest strategically consolidates and focuses on other winnable seats for Congress, leveraging his stature as a national leader whose influence extends beyond a single constituency.”
Kharge, who has fielded his son-in-law Radhakrishna, remains optimistic about the coalition’s prospects nationally. “These elections are more than ever about the people of India versus the BJP’s 10 years of anti-people policies. Their campaign will fade away, just as it did in 2004,” Kharge asserted in an interview with TOI.
Radhakrishna, amidst battling BJP attacks and soaring temperatures, expressed confidence, stating, “There’s no doubt about victory.” Priyank, a key figure in Congress’s campaign, noted, “Our campaign has gained momentum daily. BJP cannot replicate its 2019 performance. Some communities, especially the Kolis and Kurubas, now understand why they should vote for Congress.”
The Kharge-Modi battle has been the subject of much speculation, particularly regarding Kharge’s potential as PM in the event of a fractured verdict. Despite Congress harboring ambitions of a post-poll alliance akin to 2004, BJP dismisses such speculation, confident of returning to the Lok Sabha with a greater majority.
Parliament has witnessed lively debates between Kharge and Modi, with the latter making remarks acknowledging Kharge’s contributions. Modi’s choice to launch his election campaign from Kalaburagi rather than his own seat or perceived Congress strongholds underscores the region’s significance and the challenge posed by Kharge.
Former PM HD Deve Gowda remarked, “If Congress intended to make him PM, they should have fielded him from Gulbarga… They didn’t even make him CM in 2018 when I suggested it. Will they ever make him PM?”
In Gulbarga, Kharge is engaged in a high-stakes battle to reclaim the seat lost to BJP’s Umesh Jadhav in 2019. Despite the defeat, Kharge remains confident, banking on his track record and the support of various communities.
The electoral landscape in Gulbarga reflects a complex interplay of religious and caste dynamics, with both BJP and Congress vying for key voting blocs. A strong showing by Kharge could rejuvenate Congress’s prospects in the region and set the stage for future electoral battles.
