But Modi’s message in Hindi failed to rouse many of them, visibly those from rural Karnataka. In principle, it should have: Karnataka is so tough on incumbents that no CM has been re-elected since 1985. Climate resilience might sound like a lofty concern in the context of a tooth-and-nail state election. It is unglamorous work preparing farmers for the “new normal” in which drought is the annual rule rather than the exception. Modi has loosed a barrage of criticism at the state Congress, but despite rural distress, his instigation of Karnataka’s farmers hasn’t stuck.

Source: Mint May 06, 2018 16:07 UTC