Bengaluru:

The sensational murder of 23-year-old student Neha Hiremath by a youth from the minority community, with whom she was reportedly in a relationship, has proved to be a blow to the Congress in Karnataka.

On the other hand, this development is also polarizing the Lingayat vote bank in favor of BJP.

While Congress is on the backfoot and apologizing, BJP is taking action on war footing and has organized statewide protests.

BJP national president JP Nadda met the family of the deceased college student.

BJP sources say that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will soon reach Hubli for election campaign.

BJP’s strategy is to embarrass the Congress government by raising the issue of ‘Love Jihad’ throughout the general elections.

Congress councilor Niranjan Hiremath, who is Neha’s father, has criticized the government’s handling of the case.

He criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, urging them not to politicize the girl’s murder and denied that she was in a relationship with Fayaz Kondikappa.

Following the outrage over the murder, the government has handed over the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The Congress government is surrounded by allegations of ‘love jihad’ of its father, the police is not bothering to track the call details of the accused, taking inputs from the family and no action has been taken against the four other people who are accused of complicity. No action is being taken. With Faiyaz Kondikappa.

CM Siddaramaiah’s clear statement that the murder is not a case of ‘Love Jihad’ has become a weapon in the hands of BJP.

BJP leaders are targeting the Congress government and asking that when their own councilor’s daughter could not be protected then how can the government ensure the safety of others?

A series of crimes, including attacks by alleged Nigerian drug smugglers on police, have raised questions about the law and order situation in the state.

Last week, Nigerian citizens attacked the police with rods, stones and helmets in Bengaluru.

Leader of the Opposition, R Ashok, listed a series of incidents recorded in recent days, such as an attack on youth for raising slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on Ram Navami celebrations, an attack on people for playing Hanuman Chalisa in Bengaluru Shop owner attacked and murdered. Murder of four people of the same family in Gadag and double murder in Bengaluru.

Ashok had alleged that the government has tied the hands of the police for appeasement politics.

Speaking to IANS, senior journalist Asha K said, “The Neha Hiremath murder case is sure to turn the election for Dharwad Lok Sabha seat. Of course, a lot depends on whether the BJP and ally saffron factions continue their verbal war against the ruling Congress over the incident.

“Neha belonged to the influential Lingayat community. He was reportedly stabbed around 4.30 pm on Thursday evening and no Congress leader dared to meet his family members till the next day. This is despite his father being a Congress councilor. This clearly shows that Congress had no words even to console the family. However, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi met the victim’s father on that fateful day itself,” said Asha K.

Asha K pointed out that Dharwad, Haveri, Belagavi and surrounding districts have a large Lingayat population, which used to support the BJP till 2023.

The community can once again come together to demand ‘justice’ for the victims of this murder.

Although Congress has condemned the incident, it has the support of Muslims.

He said, “In a way, the tongues of the party leaders are tied.” This has forced him to repeatedly say that this is a ‘personal matter’ while the BJP alleges that this is another love jihad incident,” Asha K said.

“Union Minister Joshi is not in a very comfortable position to retain the Dharwad seat. Some Lingayat saints have alleged that he has betrayed politicians of their community,” he said.

“Neha murder case has every possibility of polarizing voters between the two major parties in Dharwad. Due to this, votes may go in favor of BJP to some extent. However, it will not have a uniform impact across the state unless the joint BJP-JD(S) decides otherwise. Politics is always dynamic,” Asha K said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)