How Twitter pundits broke down Karnataka Assembly election
War of words on Twitter not enough
It was a day full of twists and turns: from exit polls predicting a hung Assembly, to BJP getting an impressive majority, and then the JD(S) preparing to stake claim to form the government with the Congress' support. Social media, too, followed the political commotion and put out its many analyses of what was happening and why.
It was a partial rerun of what had happened in Goa and Manipur. While many social media users rejoiced that the BJP finally got a taste of its own medicine, still others were doubtful of what the governor would do, as both BJP and JD(S) have reached the governor’s house to stake claim to power.
Also, a handful of social media users pointed out that many JD(S) MLAs would actually not like to side with the Congress.
As the drama unfolded throughout the day, here's what social media dished out:
Governor Vajubhai Vala vacated his Rajkot seat for Narendra Modi in 2002 and even served as CM Modi’s finance minister. The RSS strongman now has a crucial role to play. Will he invite the largest party or the coalition with the largest numbers ? #KarnatakaElectionResults
— seemi pasha (@seemi_pasha) May 15, 2018
BJP cribbing about coalition government forgetting they sent a defence minister back to his home state to form a coalition with other players in Goa. LOL.
— Aditya (@Brewkenstein) May 15, 2018
What can be a classic end to this result:JDS extends support to Congress and then 10 MLAs of JDS move to BJP
— Rahul Raj (@bhak_sala) May 15, 2018
After a massive loss given by people, now Lutyens is trying to prop up JDS - Congress Govt.This will also remain a dream, like of Congress as Single Largest Party.
— Ishkaran Singh Bhandari (@Ish_Bhandari) May 15, 2018
Many JDS MLAs personally do not support Congress. They are ready to support BJP. One way out is: They can resign from MLA post. The strength of the Assembly will come down, and BJP will cross the magic figure. Question is: Will they do it? #KarnatakaVerdict
— Blue Lemon (@Indopolity) May 15, 2018
Even with Congress offering support for Kumaraswamy as CM in #KarnatakaElections the JDS can split can't it ? Lookout for resorts that do house arrests ???? #KarnatakaVerdict
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) May 15, 2018
What’s common between the son and the father. One didn’t dream of becoming CM. The other didn’t dream of being PM. But when they realised their dream it became a nightmare for the people.
— SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) May 15, 2018
Congress shouldn't have undermined JDS
Vote share of BJP and Cong almost identical in Karnataka. Lesson for cong: tie up with regional leaders,Unite smaller parties/leaders if you want to survive the BJP juggernaut. Cong can't lead the anti BJP forces on its own.. #ResultOnKarnataka
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) May 15, 2018
Congratulations to the winners of the Karnataka elections. For those who lost, fight back. If Congress had gone into an alliance with the JD(S), the result would have been different. Very different
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 15, 2018
Lingayat issue backfired
Lingayat divide and rule strategy seems to have tanked badly.Good!
— Meghnad (@Memeghnad) May 15, 2018
Another #KarnatakaElections2018 take away - the attempt to divide Hindus over the Lingayat issue has backfired - with BJP outperforming the Congress in Lingayat strongholds.
— Advaita Kala (@AdvaitaKala) May 15, 2018
Basavaraj Rayareddy is Congress education minister. Submitted memorandum for Lingayats as separate religion and rallied many Lingayat Gurus support to his memorandumLosing in his own constituency.For petty politics,Congress tried to divide Hindus. Karnataka taught them a lesson pic.twitter.com/hiFwCT2t0j
— True Indology (@TrueIndology) May 15, 2018
What worked for BJP
What has worked for BJP in Karnataka?Namo magicAnti IncumbencyLingayats
— chetan taishete (@catsy151) May 15, 2018
What didn't work for Congress
While 1 Yeddy, 1 Reddy and 2 Gujjus took BJP beyond 1-1-2, nothing seems to have worked for Congress - Bhagya schemes, Tipu Jayanthi, Minority status to Lingayats, Blackening of Hindi boards at metro stations, and what not! #KarnatakaElectionResults2018
— Shashishekhar (@ShashiChaugule) May 15, 2018
People voted for Modi, not scam-tainted Yeddyurappa
NopeKarnataka choose BJPUntil and unless the people don't see the background infoThey are only voting for the face of the partyModiCriminals are voted into politics the same way....
— osalicylaldehyde (@osalicyl) May 15, 2018
'Have not seen any Congress workers in my area'
That's true. Ground level work BJP does is tremendous. They have visited all the houses and apartments in my area doo to door but I have not seen any congress workers. #KarnatakaVerdict #KarnatakaElectionResults2018 #KarnatakaResults https://t.co/knrVo77IJS
— AASH (@Kosher_Souls) May 15, 2018
Tipu Jayanti row
Dr. Chidananda Murthy is an outstanding Kannada writer & researcher.He was insulted and dragged out of a government event when he opposed a Jayanti citing historical facts.Minister Umashri didn't help even though she could.Today, voters packed off Umashri!#KarnatakaVerdict pic.twitter.com/8stR9vMRs3
— Kiran Kumar S (@KiranKS) May 15, 2018
Where is Rahul Gandhi?
On the last day of campaigning, Rahul Gandhi sounded confident as he addressd a press conference and said that the Congress was bound to come back to power in Karnataka. "The outcome of Karnataka elections is that the Congress is winning hands down," Rahul Gandhi had said.
If these trends hold, the Karnataka elections are a major humiliation for the Chief Minister. But they are also a serious setback to his Party President. But while the voters have thrown out Siddaramaiah, will a single Congress leader pose a sharp question to Rahul Gandhi?
— Ramachandra Guha (@Ram_Guha) May 15, 2018
Shouldn't @RahulGandhi take moral responsibility for moral victory in #KarnatakaElections2018
— Amal Magazine (@amalmagazine) May 15, 2018
Crediting Hindutva is oversimplification
Dear liberals, by crediting Hindutwa you are only strengthening it. We need to wait for a nuanced analysis. Let's face the truth if be, but let's not unduly credit Hindutwa. For all you know, the reason for BJP's win maybe the support for JDS, a regional party.
— Brown Anthropologist (@TheSentiHindu) May 15, 2018
Indication to national victory?
K’taka must be a boost for BJP. But the state offers a strange pattern. Party that loses K’taka comes to power nationally next yr. Cong in ‘13 K’taka~BJP nationally in ‘14. BJP ‘08 in K’taka~Cong nationally ‘09. Non-Cong ‘03 K’taka~Cong in ‘04. Cong 99 in K’taka~BJP nationally.
— Vinod K. Jose (@vinodjose) May 15, 2018
Hate speech working?
And I hate to say this, but all those hate speeches are working. National elections are going to look very ugly. Let's just accept it.
— Anupam Gupta (@b50) May 15, 2018
Congress hopelessly outnumbered
Not surprised @BJP4India wins Karnataka. Their ground campaign executes with military precision. @INCIndia hopelessly outmanned
— Annie Gowen (@anniegowen) May 15, 2018
Went door-to-door with @BJP4India ward captain in Mangalore, residents said it was third time meeting him. This is ground game, people #KarnatakaElection2018
— Annie Gowen (@anniegowen) May 15, 2018
Government officials not happy with Siddaramaiah
It was expected.. One of the biggest reason why Congress lost is..Government employees of Karnataka are not at all happy with CM.
— SUNN (@JadhavPSunny) May 15, 2018
Congress so prepared for loss
If you listen to the replies and statement of @INCIndia in news right now, it clearly indicates that they are well prepared, to answer that why they lost Karnataka. They were well aware about the results. @indiatvnews
— Anit Agarwal (@gartiindia) May 15, 2018
Twitter wars not enough
In the run-up to the election, social media had witnessed intense activity as Twitter battles were not only limited to the state leaders' timelines.
Siddaramaiah, Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi, BS Yeddyurappa were at loggerheads on Twitter, apart from the Twitter handles of the Karnataka Congress and BJP Karnataka.
Congress ran a witty campaign on social media. Makes no difference to the outcome unless you can run a solid campaign on the ground. When it comes to last mile connectivity @AmitShah led BJP leagues ahead of @RahulGandhi led Congress.
— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) May 15, 2018
One of the important lessons from #KarnatakaElectionResults2018 is that smart Alec @Twitter wars are not enough to win battles on the ground.
— Aarti Tikoo Singh (@AartiTikoo) May 15, 2018
What went wrong?
Ironical is the Vote share calculations! INC is ahead, so what went wrong? Over Confidence.... #KarnatakaVotesForCongress pic.twitter.com/NjdwfodLJA
— Saravanan Annadurai (@asaravanan21) May 15, 2018
New voters were not with Congress
Congress seems to have retained it's vote base but failed badly in getting new voters.BJP probably got the new voters and a lot of otherwise possible new Congress votes seem to have gone to the JD(S).Moral: Never underestimate the power of regional parties.
— Meghnad (@Memeghnad) May 15, 2018