How Amit Shah Lost Karnataka and Yogi Adityanath Won UP: A Tale of Two BJP Leaders

The month of May 2023 witnessed two contrasting outcomes for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in two states of India. While the party suffered a humiliating defeat in the Karnataka state assembly elections, it registered a resounding victory in the Uttar Pradesh Nagar Panchayat Elections. What were the factors that led to these divergent results ? How did the role of the party’s top leaders, Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath, influence the voters’ choices ? Let us analyse the reasons behind BJP’s success and failure in these two states.

Karnataka: A Jinxed State For BJP

Karnataka has been a jinxed state for BJP since 1985, as no incumbent party has been able to retain power in the state for more than one term. The party had hoped to break this trend by winning the 2023 assembly elections, but it failed miserably. The party could only win 80 seats out of 224, losing 24 seats from its previous tally of 104 in 2018. The Congress emerged as the single-largest party with 105 seats, followed by the Janata Dal (Secular) with 32 seats. The Congress and JD (S) formed a post-poll alliance and claimed the majority to form the government.

So what went wrong for BJP in Karnataka ? The main reason was the poor performance of the party’s state unit under the leadership of Amit Shah, who was appointed as the chief minister after BS Yediyurappa resigned in July 2022. Shah, who is known as a master strategist and a hardliner, failed to win the confidence and trust of the people of Karnataka. He was seen as an outsider who imposed his decisions on the state without consulting the local leaders and workers. He also faced allegations of corruption, nepotism, and authoritarianism from within and outside the party.

Shah’s policies and actions alienated various sections of society, especially the farmers, Dalits, minorities, and women. He mishandled the Covid-19 pandemic situation, which resulted in a high number of deaths and infections in the state. He also ignored the demands of various regions and communities for development and welfare schemes. He antagonized the Lingayats, who are considered BJP’s core vote bank in Karnataka, by sidelining Yediyurappa and other senior leaders from the community. He also failed to address the grievances of the rebels and dissidents who had defected from Congress and JD (S) to join the BJP in 2019.

Shah’s campaign strategy was also flawed and ineffective. He relied heavily on his image and charisma, without projecting any local face or vision for the state. He also indulged in negative campaigning and personal attacks on his rivals, instead of focusing on issues and achievements. He tried to polarize the voters on communal lines, but it backfired as people rejected his divisive agenda. He also underestimated the strength and unity of the Congress-JD (S) alliance, which managed to overcome their differences and present a credible alternative to the BJP.

As Per Internal Sources of The BJP, Amit Shah has been taking all the decisions of the Party Since he Became National President of The BJP till date. In all this he has always given Precedence & Priority To The Turncoats (Outsiders who joined The BJP) within the Party giving them Higher Positions within The Party besides getting them appointed on Various Government Positions including the Government's PSUs as well as Public Positions like the Trusteeships of the Public Temple Trusts & Directorships Of Various  Planning Authorities, in all the States etc. A live example of the same is Mukul Roy of The TMC who has been appointed National Vice President of The BJP. It is being secretly said the Original Cadre / Leader of The BJP is neither consulted nor asked in all such matters. Due to all this the original cadre (known as the original BJP in public) does not reach out to the people / voters to explain / inform the BJP Government's Achievements and neither do they reach out to the Voters to Vote for The BJP. Hence The Defeat Of The BJP In Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023. Besides the same as per insider sources this same kind of performance is expected by The BJP in the ensuing Elections in all the States as well as the Centre is expected in the prevailing situation.

Uttar Pradesh: A Bastion For BJP

Uttar Pradesh, on the other hand, proved to be a bastion for BJP in the Nagar Panchayat elections held in May 2023. The party swept the polls by winning 236 out of 486 seats across 75 districts. The Samajwadi Party came second with 143 seats, followed by Congress with 34 seats and Bahujan Samaj Party with 30 seats. The BJP also won 10 out of 17 mayor posts in municipal corporations, while SP and BSP won one each.

The main reason for BJP’s success in UP was the capable leadership of Yogi Adityanath, who has been ruling the state since 2017. Adityanath has emerged as one of the most popular and powerful chief ministers in India, who has delivered on his promises of development, governance, security, and welfare. He has also maintained a balance between his Hindutva ideology and his inclusive approach towards all sections of society.

Adityanath’s policies and actions have benefited various segments of society, especially the poor, farmers, women, youth, and minorities. He has handled the Covid-19 pandemic situation effectively, despite the challenges of managing a large and populous state. He has ramped up testing, tracing, treatment, and vaccination facilities, and provided relief and support to those affected by the virus. He has also launched several schemes and projects to boost the economy, create jobs, improve infrastructure, and promote tourism.

Adityanath’s campaign strategy was also smart and efficient. He highlighted his achievements and vision for the State; while exposing the failures and corruption of his rivals. He also appealed to the sentiments and aspirations of the people, especially the youth and women. He showcased his image as a strong and decisive leader who can protect the interests and dignity of UP. He also mobilized his loyal supporters and workers at the grassroots level to ensure high voter turnout.

Conclusion

The contrasting results of the Karnataka and UP elections show that BJP’s fortunes depend largely on its state-level leadership and performance. While Amit Shah failed to impress the voters of Karnataka with his arrogance and incompetence, Yogi Adityanath won their hearts with his competence and charisma. The elections also indicate that BJP cannot rely solely on its national image or Modi’s popularity to win state elections. It needs to nurture local leaders who can connect with the people and deliver on their expectations. Otherwise, it may face more setbacks in the future.