By BD Narayankar Bengaluru, April 21 (Reporter) The Hubballi murder case has taken centre-stage in Karnataka, intensifying the political rhetoric between the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the parliamentary elections. Recent ground reports suggested a closely fought electoral contest in Karnataka, with projections indicating a potential fight over 8-10 seats between the two parties. The absence of serious communal issues had initially been viewed as favourable to the electoral prospects of the Congress. However, the Hubballi incident has dramatically altered the political narrative. The tragic murder has not only stirred public outrage but also triggered a heated exchange between the Congress and the BJP. The BJP, which had been focusing less on Hindutva this election cycle, has seized on the incident. The party has criticised the Congress government for alleged "minority appeasement" and is focusing on its pet theme of 'Love Jihad' to rally support. The BJP has also instructed its cadre to protest against the government's response to the tragedy. On the other hand, the Congress is preparing itself to navigate this sensitive issue carefully to counter the BJP's narrative effectively. The party is cautious to mitigate potential electoral damage in the upcoming elections due to some controversil statements made by Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Both the Congress and the BJP are vying to leverage the situation to their advantage, making the upcoming elections crucial for both parties in Karnataka...////...