Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been to Karnataka twice in less than a month. Even though the Assembly elections are still five months away, the saffron-clad politician has emerged as the main draw in the southern state where the BJP is trying its best to make a comeback.
The BJP has seen Adityanath's appeal in the states that are going to polls. He had campaigned for the BJP during the Gujarat elections in order to appeal to the Hindi-speaking migrants in the western state. The Uttar Pradesh CM's visits to Karnataka are aimed at serving a similar purpose as the BJP appears to be pushing for Hindutva issues in the state to tide over the caste divisions.
After Narendra Modi, Adityanath has emerged as a most powerful Hindutva icon. He is sought after by state units of the BJP wherever elections are being held. Even in Tripura, the BJP has asked Adityanath to campaign as the state has followers of the Nath sect to which the UP CM belongs.
The Hindutva poster boy's latest visit to Karnataka gives a peek into the BJP's game plan.
During his rally as part of the 75-day Parivartan Yatra being carried out by B.S. Yeddyurappa, Adityanath questioned the Hindu credentials of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, asking why did he allow beef consumption in the state. During his earlier rally in Hubli, in December, Adityanath had raised the same issue.
The Uttar Pradesh CM even visited Adichunchanagiri Mutt, on Sunday, where he met its seer Nirmalanandanath Swami. Both of them belong to the Nath sect.
This mutt represents the Vokkaliga community, which has been politically significant in the state.
Adityanath's visit comes after BJP chief Amit Shah had visited the mutt last year.
In Siddaramaiah, the BJP sees a strong opponent who has to be countered on many fronts. As the Congress has been tacitly supporting the Lingayat agitation, the BJP is wooing the Vokkaliga caste. Siddaramaiah has been, on his part, trying to woo different castes including the OBCs and dalits who helped his party win.
When a state votes along the caste divisions, it hurts the BJP the most as was seen in Gujarat recently. In the Uttar Pradesh elections, where the electorate did not vote along the caste lines, the BJP won an unprecedented majority.
The saffron party is adopting a similar strategy in Karnataka to minimise the caste affiliations as it is raising issues concerning the Hindus.
Adityanath's entry into the state got traction as Siddaramaiah tried to needle the former on Twitter over starvation deaths. However, Adityanath paid him back in the same coin, saying Siddaramaiah should look at the farmer suicides during his regime. The Twitter war spilled over, raising the political temperature. It is only set to go up in the coming days.
