How Karnataka push helped Congress win Telangana

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

Bengaluru: Congress’ shock victory in Telangana had contributions from the Karnataka unit of the party and was not just limited to campaigning by ministers. It has been well publicized that 10 ministers from Karnataka, including but not limited to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed and Food and Civil Supplies Minister KH Muniyappa, campaigned in Telangana for several weeks in the lead up to the November 30 polling day.

Among their strategies was hard selling the five guarantees, four of which have already been implemented in Karnataka.

Congress ended up unveiling five similar guarantees in Telangana, banking on the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) attracting poorer sections seeking some relief from soaring inflation.

Kanugolu imprint on victory

However, what was understated is Karnatakanative and Congress’ chairman of the Election Strategy Committee (ESC) Sunil Kanugolu delivering another state to the Grand Old Party.

With Shivakumar by his side, Kanugolu used the tried and tested two-pronged strategy of utilization of survey-based data and aggressively pushing the guarantees.

Interestingly, Kanugolu had held several meetings with Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao in May 2022 before joining the Congress.

His responsibilities include preparing surveys, campaigning, suggestions on candidates, and carving out a winning strategy.

Focus on Telugu state

Apparently, it was Kanugolu who insisted on the aggressive Congress push in Telangana, believing there to be a real opening in the state when most thought the BRS juggernaut couldn’t be stopped.

It was he who said the party had a better chance of winning in Telangana compared to Madhya Pradesh. On the poll strategist’s suggestion, Cong ress bigwigs, Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi, All India Congress Commit tee (AICC) general secretary Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge collectively addressed 65 rallies and road shows since late August.

Rahul alone addressed 25 public meetings. Kanugolu recommended that Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision making body of the party, hold a public meeting on September 15 in Hyderabad and have party bigwig Sonia Gandhi announce the six guarantees.

Moreover, he effectively made it a two-way contest between Congress and BRS, which worked in the former’s favour, sidelining All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the BJP.

Other strategies included claiming that BRS had a secret understanding with the BJP. It had worked in their favour when they said the same thing about JD(S) in Karnataka.

The Grand Old Party also played up corruption allegations in the Medigadda barrage project. Kanugolu also suggested that YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) side with the Congress.

The party is led by YS Sharmila, daughter of late CM of erstwhile, united Andhra Pradesh YS Rajasekhara Reddy. Telangana police had even raided the Congress war room back in March for what they claimed were defamatory comments against CM K Chandrashekhar Rao.

The only criticism of Kanugolu is Congress’ failure in Madhya Pradesh which was retained by the BJ P. Even there, the state leadership of the party was blamed for not cooperating with Kanugolu over ticket distribution and the like.