Karnataka polls: Will Congress' promise to ban Bajrang Dal backfire?

New Delhi: With just a week remaining for the crucial Karnataka Legislative Assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party is trying hard to remove the stains of 40 per cent corruption allegations by pandering to the Hindutva agenda.

As part of the process to consolidate the Hindu votes in its southern bastion, the saffron unit has promised implementation of the Uniform Civil Code and implementation of the National Register of Citizens, which are long-standing demands of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh. 

The BJP has also seemingly been helped by the Congress, as its manifesto has promised a ban on the Sangh-affiliate Bajrang Dal.

RSS, the ideological parent of BJP, is the backbone of the saffron unit and implementation of issues close to its agenda has been paramount for BJP governments across the country. Sangh cadres play a crucial role in consolidating the votes in favour of the Saffron party.

Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, which has been facing the heat over alleged corruption is seemingly trying to pander to the RSS-backed Hindutva agenda to deflect the heat over these allegations.    

The BJP manifesto has promised UCC implementation once its government returns to the state, a step widely believed to be aimed at consolidation of Hindu voters in favour of the saffron cause. While the proposed NRC exercise is meant to ensure the speedy deportation of illegal immigrants from the state, which is another cause dear to the Sangh.

Sources stated that the BJP is trying to create "mahaul" (atmosphere) on the need and positive sides of the UCC implementation. By vociferously taking up these Hindutva issues, the BJP hopes to deflect the criticism of the Bommai government over corruption-related issues, sources added.  

Interestingly, after coming under fire over corruption, a similar step was initiated by the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led BJP government in Uttarakhand which had sought suggestions from the public for the formulation and imposition of UCC and ordered registration of all madrasas in the state.

Congress' miscalculation over Bajrang Dal ban?

Congress’ promise to ban RSS-affiliate Bajrang Dal, if its government is brought to power in the forthcoming Assembly polls, may turn out to be a massive miscalculation on the part of the grand old party.

While the move is being seen as an attempt to consolidate the minority Muslim voters in favour of the grand old party, it may indeed end up helping the BJP as it could also lead to reverse polarization of the Hindu voters in favour of the saffron cause.

The BJP has already started to compare the proposed ban with the equation of the Bajrang Dal with the Popular Front of India (PFI), against which the Centre had invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act last September.

The saffron unit has raised the campaign pitch and is terming the proposed ban on the Bajrang Dal as a direct assault on the Hindu ethos by the Congress leadership and an alleged attempt by the grand old party towards Muslim appeasement.

While both parties slog it out in the final days leading up to the Assembly polls, the stakes to control the only southern state being ruled by a national party are immense.

The 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly is scheduled for polls in a single phase on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13.