How Bajrang Dal move worked in Congress's favour in Karnataka

Helped party consolidate its Muslim support base

congress-hanuman-arvind-jain Congress supporters raise chants of 'Jai Bajrang Bali' as they celebrate the party's victory in the Karnataka assembly elections on Saturday | Arvind Jain

It came as a surprise when the Congress pledged in its manifesto for the Assembly elections in Karnataka that it would impose a ban on the Bajrang Dal. It instantly gave rise to a debate on the political efficacy of the move, speculation on whether it would result in polarisation of the electorate and as expected was latched on to by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

It was felt that the party could have made a political miscalculation by bringing Bajrang Dal, a right wing outfit that had been at the forefront in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement by allowing the BJP to double down on its efforts to raise Hindutva-related issues. In its manifesto, the party had put the Bajrang Dal in the same bracket as the Popular Front of India (PFI) and said that it was committed to taking firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations like the Bajrang Dal and the PFI.

The reaction from the BJP to the announcement was swift and strong. The party described the Congress's manifesto promise as evidence of its anti-Hindu mindset and an insult to Lord Hanuman. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his election campaign in the state, said the Congress had insulted those who are devotees of Bajrang Bali. He even exhorted the crowds at his rallies to raise slogans of “Jai Bajrang Bali”.

As the results for the elections poured in, making it clear that the Congress had emerged victorious and would form the next government, it was time for the party to claim vindication over its stand on Bajrang Dal. Lord Hanuman dominated the celebrations at the AICC headquarters in the national capital, with a Congress worker dressed as Hanuman posing for photos with party colleagues, and red maces, the weapon of the deity, becoming a common sight in the party precincts. Slogans of “Jai Bajrang Bali” were also raised by the party workers at regular intervals.

Posters of Lord Hanuman and his mace were held aloft by party workers behind former Congress President Rahul Gandhi as he gave his reaction to the election results at the AICC headquarters. It was then only apt when Gandhi said the election outcome was a victory of politics of love over politics of hatred.

Party leaders described the victory as a befitting reply by supporters of Bajrang Bali to the “divisive agenda” of the BJP. However, it is also assessed that the debate over the proposed ban on Bajrang Dal could have helped the party consolidate its Muslim support base. This, party leaders say, was evident in Old Mysuru region, where the party gained from the Muslim votes consolidating behind it and not getting split between the Congress and the JD(S). Party leaders also say that the noise created by the BJP over the issue was disproportionate to its actual impact on the Hindu electorate since it could have had an effect only in coastal Karnataka, which is the BJP's stronghold and where politics of Hindutva has a play.

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