The jury is out as to why the Congress decided to bring in the Bajrang Dal ban in its Karnataka manifesto, but on the surface, it does seem as if the Congress has scored a self-goal. Until the manifesto release, the Congress was running a fine campaign, raising issues of development with its very catchy poll promise of Five Guarantees that catered to every section of society. Then suddenly with the Bajrang Dal ban, the focus has shifted to Hindutva and politics of polarisation. Sensing an opening, BJP leaders are now chanting Hanuman Chalisa and the cry of Jai Bajrangbali at every rally to perpetuate a narrative that the Congress was against Lord Hanuman. In response, the Congress is now busy proving its Hindutva credentials by visiting temples and D.K. Shivakumar promising to build a Hanuman temple should the party return to power.
This is surely a narrative twist that can be avoided. The politics of Bajrang Dal vs Jai Bajrangbali will have an impact in coastal Karnataka, according to pollsters. But it does take away from the larger context of the Congress campaign and with which it began the electioneering—by focusing on its own pro development narrative and taking on the BJP for running a corrupt government in the state. In fact, this is one state where the local infighting amongst state leaders is more rampant in the BJP than the Congress. A recent video clip of D.K. Shivakumar chatting with his state rival and Congress leader Siddaramaiah has gone viral and furthers the notion that the two leaders have decided to leave the leadership issue for later and are jointly focusing on winning the state election.
Given this, one is not clear as to why the Congress brought in the Bajrang Dal mention. Some say it was to further the notion of a secular India that was the flagship of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Be that as it may, it does not translate into practical politics and tends to deviate from the other more impactful manifesto promises. Given that Veerappa Moily tried to play down the Bajrang Dal ban in his recent comments, one wonders if this idea came from the state, or from central leaders who are still high up on the aftermath of Bharat Jodo.