Karnataka: Politics of Guarantee: Karnataka’s influence on national campaigns

As the political battlefield heats up in Karnataka, the promise of guarantees has emerged as the centerpiece of both the Congress and BJP campaigns, each vying for supremacy in the Lok Sabha elections.
Even before the Congress unveiled its manifesto and Prime Minister Narendra Modi leveled accusations against it, alleging ties to the Muslim League, the state’s political landscape was already dominated by a flurry of assurances and strategies centered around the concept of “guarantees”.

Having secured victory in Karnataka in 2023 based on the fulfillment of five promises, Congress now seeks to replicate its success on a national scale, convinced of its resonance beyond state borders. Meanwhile, BJP has introduced its own variant, ‘Modi ki guarantee‘, aiming to capitalize on the popularity and charisma of the Prime Minister.

Responding to PM Modi‘s critique of Congress’s manifesto, AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the Prime Minister’s tactics, accusing him of resorting to divisive rhetoric to deflect attention from pressing issues. “Modi is known for his tricks to divert attention from core issues whenever he senses his party is losing ground and resorts to divisive rhetoric. That is why he didn’t hesitate to stoop low to dub our manifesto ‘Muslim League manifesto’ and he has told Hindu women that Congress will snatch their mangalsutras to give to Muslims. It is both deplorable and unbecoming of a Prime Minister to lower the public discourse,” TOI quoted Kharge as saying.

Deputy CM and KPCC president D K Shivakumar emphasised the importance of guarantee implementation, illustrating his point with a Kannada poem that highlighted the strength derived from fulfilling promises. The Karnataka government has gone a step further by establishing a Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority at various levels to ensure the effective delivery of promises.Highlighting the tangible impact of Congress’s guarantees, Siddaramaiah announced a substantial budget allocation for guarantee implementation in the upcoming fiscal year. Conversely, BJP is banking on Modi’s track record and rhetorical skills to sway voters, showcasing promises already fulfilled by the Prime Minister.BJP’s campaign committee convener, V Sunil Kumar, outlined the party’s strategy, aiming to expose what they perceive as Congress’s shortcomings while emphasizing Modi’s accomplishments. Despite BJP’s victories in other states, Congress remains undeterred, announcing 25 new guarantees at the national level to counter ‘Modi ki guarantee’.