One year of Basavaraj Bommai regime: A sharp turn to the right

A marker that distinguishes the past one-year regime of Basavaraj Bommai from that of his predecessor B.S. This runs contrary to the initial expectation that Mr. Bommai would not be a “hard Hindutva” leader, given that he does not come from the Sangh Parivar stables and has socialist roots. An early indication of the turn of events came in October 2021, when Mr. Bommai, responding to a question on “moral policing” by Hindutva groups in Mangaluru, said that “action and reaction are bound to happen when there is no morality in society”. Recent surveys held by the party have indicated that the hijab row has worked in favour of the party even beyond the traditional Hindutva pockets,” a senior party strategist said, arguing the 2023 Assembly elections was a “test case” as to whether this strategy would work for the party beyond its traditional pockets of coastal districts, Malnad, and some districts of Bombay Karnataka region. Multiple planks Political scientist Sandeep Shastri, Vice-Chancellor, Jagran Lakecity University, Bhopal, said the BJP had been using “multiple messaging” in Karnataka for decades now — of being an effective alternative and being anti-corruption and pro-Hindutva, besides doing social engineering etc.