With due regards to arun, i as a kannadiga would like to point out that regional and local issues are taking front seat mainly because they were never addressed. Let me explain what is happening in karnataka. First of all we are unfortunate to have JD(s) as our regional party (though they claim they are national party). Whenever there is an election, congress(read sonia) sends some one who diesn't understand karnataka to make decisions, while BJP sends some clerk. BJP is little smart in that it gives importance to local issues, even RSS believes vibrant republic is the way to go. Karnataka with 5 crore population is not parochial. Neither TN, Maharastra or andhra for that matter. Though all of indian states have common cultural roots, they are all different, robost outgrown branches. And they are sustainable. With all the talk about amrerica and france, france is of same size as karnataka. What suits france may be good enough for karnataka. But for india? come on. America despite being monolithic culture is a strong republic with lot of power vested on States, municipals, and towns. India is infact a good candidate for republic. I don't understand why local issues are not national issues. Main problem as they pointed out in later conversation is our shallowness in politicians, media and people who vote.
