K Venkateshwarlu
Hyderabad
The Congress has to win the hearts of minorities if it wants to register a Karnataka-type victory in the 2023 Telangana elections as in Karnataka the minorities, particularly Muslims, extended outright support to the Congress.
In fact, it is not that easy for the Congress to get the support of minorities in Telangana as minorities like Muslims, Christians and others are with the ruling BRS. The Congress registered a thumping victory in Karnataka as the JDS lost the votes of minorities.
The scene in Telangana is different compared to Karnataka. The percentage of the minorities in Karnataka is (12.92% (Muslims) + 1.87% (Christian) + 0.05% (Sikh) (a total of 14.84%) as per the 2011 Census. In Karnataka, the Congress defeated the BJP which depended totally on the 84% Hindu votes.
In fact, Telangana too has almost an equal percentage of minorities with Muslims (12.69%), Christians (1.27%) and others (0.09%) and a total of (14.65%). The minorities may decide the winner if the election is neck and neck.
Karnataka minorities supported the Congress outright ensuring a thumping victory. The Congress had moved politically and non-politically to attract the votes of minorities successfully in Karnataka. Even, the AIMIM took the Karnataka elections lightly and contested only a couple of seats giving a chance to the Congress.
Karnataka Muslims firmly voted for the Congress and defeated the BJP. It is not just regard for the Congress that made the minorities vote for the Congress in Karnataka. There were several other factors behind that.
But the scene in Telangana is not like the one in Karnataka. It is not that easy for the Congress to manage the situation like in Karnataka as the ruling BRS has the full support of minorities.
