The trolls and memes against the government at the centre, which was at its peak during the Karnataka election, tell us that there exists a wave of sub nationalistic tendencies among the southern state.
T
he recent events in Karnataka election tell us many things. It began with Deve Gowda’s wake up call to the southern regional parties to arm up against the expansion and growth of the right wing BJP government. This then led to the Congress- JDS alliance that made Yeddyurappa to step down from forming the BJP government in Karnataka, one could not ignore the hesitation among the southern minds to accept the BJP government at the centre. However, the important thing that has to be noticed is the extent of support the anti –BJP alliance received from the other southern states, specifically Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Various studies have proved that southern states have a higher degree of sub nationalist tendencies. This has deep roots in the history, political culture and welfare policies that these states possess. Prerna Singh has traced the origin of this with the ‘Aikya Kerala Movement’ that began in the late 19th and early 20th century asserting a strong Malayali identity as the growth of sub nationalism. The state has united against the Brahmin population claiming reservation in jobs, has led to the establishment of a Malayali identity. In the case of Tamil Nadu, it was in terms of the elite sub nationalism that existed from 1970 onwards which resulted in positive outcomes by the two major regionalist parties. The anti-Brahmin movement of Justice Party in Tamil Nadu can be read on the same line of the Aikya Kerala Movement.
In southern state like Kerala and Tamil Nadu one could also find that there was a history of lower caste/class mobilization. In the case of Kerala, historical mobilization of the lower caste/class well before independence, the role of communist party etc. led to successful pro-poor policies. Atul Kohli has identified that there are two distinguishing factors that have been identified with the southern states. These are the challenges to the narrow dominance of the Brahmins and the effective power of the bureaucrats in the policy implementation and delivery. But one cannot homogenise the southern state with regard to these two factors as Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh has shown variations in this.
This southern sub nationalism has produced effective welfare policies in these states compared to the rest of the Indian states. It can easily be identified with their increasing investment of the state in education and health as well as for the effective implementation of the social schemes.
It throws light on why national political party like BJP induces nationalist ideologies in states where sub nationalist tendencies are minor. Therefore, it clearly explains why Kerala has received the lowest share from the centre with respect to the educational and health expenses.
Though BJP has limited luck with the southern parties, it has to be noted that despite the existence of sub-nationalism, the party manages to increase their vote share in these states, which is considered as a concern to the southern democracies of India.
