Hyderabad: An example of how emphatic Congress' victory in Karnataka is, the party managed to reclaim the Chikmagalur constituency, which had been under the control of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2004. Congress leader HD Thammaiah polled 85,054 votes beating BJP's four-time Karnataka BJP MLA and the party's national general secretary CT Ravi by 5,926 votes.
The win also recapitulates history when 45 years ago Indira Gandhi had wrested the seat from Janata Party reclaiming the lost ground not only in Karnataka but in national politics as well. Indira Gandhi's win from Chikmagalur was a significant moment in Indian political history. The election, held in 1978, was an important one for Indira Gandhi as she had just returned to power after the Emergency era. The Chikmagalur constituency was considered a stronghold of the Janata Party, which had come to power after defeating Congress in the 1977 general elections.
Indira Gandhi chose to contest the by-election from Chikmagalur, despite the fact that the constituency had never been considered a safe seat for the Congress. Her decision to contest the seat was seen as a reflection of her determination to regain power at the national level. The Janata Party, on the other hand, fielded a strong candidate in the form of Veerendra Patil, who was a former Chief Minister of Karnataka.
The campaign in Chikmagalur was intense, with both parties leaving no stone unturned to win the election. Indira Gandhi emerged victorious, winning the Chikmagalur seat by a margin of over 1 lakh votes. Her win was not only a major boost for the Congress, which had been struggling to regain its foothold in Karnataka after the 1977 defeat but it also paved the way for her return to power at the national level, which she achieved in the 1980 general elections despite the controversies surrounding the Emergency.
Fast forward to 2023, the win of the Congress party from Chikmagalur is being compared to Indira Gandhi's victory from the same constituency in 1978. Both wins have similar contexts - the Congress party had lost the seat to the opposition in the previous election and the by-election was seen as an opportunity to regain lost ground.
The Chikmagalur constituency is situated in the picturesque Malnad region of Karnataka, which is not only known for its coffee plantations and scenic beauty but also for its political significance because it has produced some of the most influential leaders in Karnataka's political history.
The election campaign in Chikmagalur was a closely fought battle between the Congress and the BJP. The BJP, which has been in power in Karnataka since 2008, fielded C. T. Ravi, who is known for his aggressive campaigning style. The Congress, on the other hand, chose H. D. Thammaiah, who is a relatively unknown face in Karnataka's political landscape. While everyone thought it to be a cake-walk victory for Ravi, Thammaiah turned the tables.
The win of the Congress party from Chikmagalur is also being seen as a sign of the changing political winds in Karnataka. The BJP, which had once been considered invincible in the state, is now facing a resurgent Congress party and a growing regional party, the Janata Dal (Secular).
Given how Indira Gandhi's win from Chikmagalur was a significant moment in Indian political history, her party's win from the constituency after a gap of 19 years might turn out to be a significant leap not only in Karnataka but in national politics as well.
Also read: Karnataka win a boost to Congress’ 2024 opposition unity plan
