Raipur. Riding on the anti-incumbency wave against the BJP in Karnataka, the Congress on Saturday secured a clear majority. According to the results, it won 136 out of 224 assembly seats. BJP has won 65 seats. Janata Dal (Secular) won 19 seats. Simultaneously, the Congress returned to power on its own after 10 years in Karnataka, ousting the BJP from the only southern state it held. Voters have decisively backed the country’s grand old party in its bid for an electoral revival ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This is the BJP’s second defeat after Himachal Pradesh in December last year. Voting was held in the state on May 10.
At the same time, there are many reasons for this big victory in Karnataka. In this, many reasons like corruption of the previous government, anti-incumbency, leaders angry with ticket distribution, Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, Bajrangi controversy, fierce attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government will be told by the analysers. But along with all these reasons, one more important reason which is not mentioned or less is the ‘Chhattisgarh Model’ of Congress. If we look at the election manifesto of Congress, then it becomes very clear why it is being said like this. The way the party got success in elections in Himachal Pradesh by promoting the schemes of Chhattisgarh government there and making promises, the same was done in Karnataka.
Manifesto of Karnataka Congress and ongoing schemes in Chhattisgarh
1. 200 units of electricity free for every household (Chhattisgarh already has electricity bill half scheme, here half the bill is waived on electricity consumption up to 400 units)
2. Unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000 per month to unemployed graduates (from this year onwards unemployment allowance of Rs 2,500 has been started for unemployed youth).
3. 10 kg rice free to every family (The plan to give 35 kg rice free to every family is already underway in Chhattisgarh)
4. Announcement to implement Old Pension Scheme (Chhattisgarh has implemented Old Pension Scheme and more than 90 percent government employees have come under it)
5. Promise to buy cow dung for three rupees per kg (In Chhattisgarh cow dung is being purchased from cow herders for two rupees per kg under the Godhan Nyaya Yojana)
6. Promise to give 2 thousand rupees per month to the female head of the family (Chhattisgarh does not have such a scheme directly, but Shakti Swaroopa Yojana is being implemented this year, in which women will be given help up to 30 thousand)
In the manifesto of Karnataka Congress, these schemes were directly taken from our state. Congress saw that the party got tremendous success in Himachal on the promise of Old Pension Scheme, so it was added here too. It is evident from the election results that the Chhattisgarh model of Congress has been accepted by the public in other states as well.
CM Baghel was the star campaigner of the party in Karnataka
It is noteworthy that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel was the star campaigner of the party in the Karnataka elections. He held meetings there, but the most important thing was his press conference held in Bengaluru on 6th May. Election strategy makers kept it 4 days before voting in the state capital. In Himachal too, Bhupesh Baghel had told about the schemes going on in Chhattisgarh by taking a press conference before voting and promised to implement them in Himachal Pradesh. Similarly, Baghel along with Karnataka Pradesh Congress President DK Shivakumar addressed the media of the country and state before voting. In this, he told how successfully the Chhattisgarh government is running the schemes included in the manifesto of the state of Karnataka and how many thousand crore rupees have been distributed to the general public. His statement was in the media on 6th and 7th. The Congress definitely benefited from this strategy.
