Political parties in Karnataka get competitive in vying for Muslim votes

This is starkly visible in Kalyana Karnataka and coastal regions where there are several more players than elsewhere

Ahead of the Legislative Assembly elections in Karnataka, a slew of political parties, including Opposition Congress and the JD(S), are in one-upmanship mode in making promises to court Muslim votes. Whether this will lead to splintering of votes and how it will impact the results remains to be seen.

Muslims constitute approximately around 13% of the population in Karnataka. The community is significant in close to 40 constituencies and plays a key factor in at least 70 segments.

In the 2018 elections, the Congress and JD(S) fielded 17 Muslim candidates each. Of them, seven Congress candidates made it to the Assembly, while the JD(S) drew a blank. The BJP did not field Muslim candidates in 2018.

Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah recently announced that ₹10,000 crore would be allocated each year for the welfare of Muslims if the party is voted to power. Generally, annual allocation for welfare of minorities has been around ₹3000 crore.

JD(S) leader and former chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy stated that his party is open to appointing a Muslim leader as chief minister if it comes to power. The party has already appointed veteran leader C.M. Ibrahim as the State president. It has also launched an intensive campaign lashing out at the BJP on the ruling party’s communal agenda.

The BJP, too, which has faced flak over the last year for allegedly targeting the Muslim community, has urged its cadre to “reach out” to Muslims and other religious minorities following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal. A few days ago, former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said that Mr. Modi had advised BJP leaders to make efforts to take Muslims into confidence.

In the Kalyana Karnataka (KK) and coastal regions, several smaller outfits are making a bid for Muslim votes. Former minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy, who started his second innings in politics by floating a new party, Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha (KRPK), visited the Ajmer Darga and offered special prayers. Mr. Reddy has apparently promised to field a good number of Muslim candidates in Ballari, Vijayanagar, Raichur and Koppal districts to test political waters.