While a victory in Karnataka elections will open the doors to the BJP’s foray into southern India, a win for Congress will galvanise the party into a much tougher opponent in the upcoming electoral battles. For one, unlike what most people like to believe, this contest is a bigger test for the Congress rather than the BJP or Modi. Third, the Karnataka elections is once again a test for the political transformation that Modi has effected of the BJP. Without this success would have not been easy, especially in polarized states like Uttar Pradesh—a somewhat similar scenario prevails in Karnataka. In the final analysis it is clear that the Karnataka elections is not just a regular contest.

Source: Mint May 15, 2018 02:48 UTC