By V.S. Karnic
Bangalore, (IANS) Political parties in Karnataka are in a state of suspended animation, just like the state assembly, with confusion persisting on what they can do next.
Of the three major contenders for power in the state – the Congress, the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), only the BJP hopes to benefit from the collapse of its coalition with the JD-S last week.
The BJP walked out of the 20-month alliance as JD-S chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy refused to hand over power after 20 months as agreed to, triggering a political crisis that led to President’s rule with the assembly kept in suspended animation.
So, while the JD-S and the Congress mull whether to come together again to form a government or go to the polls, the BJP is projecting itself as a martyr.
Compared to the Congress, however, the JD-S is in a weaker position as it is seen as a force that has brought down two coalition governments in a little over three years since May 2004.
Kumaraswamy had walked out with a large number of JD-S legislators in February 2006 ending a Congress-JD-S coalition. And he has now gone back on his word to BJP.
The Congress on its part is uncertain whether supping again with the JD-S for the remaining 20 months of the assembly would lead to revulsion among the electorate towards the party – which would be advantage BJP.
The confusion in Congress state leadership is so intense that legislators, party office bearers and even MPs have been gagged.
“Only the chief of the state unit or Congress high command is authorised to speak on the issue of government formation. If any one else goes public with their views, it will be viewed as an act of indiscipline,” said state Congress president Mallikharjun Kharge.
The JD-S faces a similar crisis, even though neither Kumaraswamy nor his father and party president H.D. Deve Gowda have issued a gag order on party leaders.
Exuding confidence that his legislators will stick together and not fall for inducements from Congress, Kumaraswamy is taking 49 legislators to a resort on Bangalore’s outskirts for two days — Monday and Tuesday.
“The Congress will not succeed in attempts to break our unity,” he asserted.
Deve Gowda has been kept away from the meeting so that the legislators can freely express their views.
Most legislators are against early elections because they fear the wrath of the people. Some want revival of the alliance with the BJP. Others favour a tie up with the Congress. Both sections have only one aim – no immediate polls.
The JD-S is also planning state-wide rallies to counter the BJP campaign that injustice has been done to the Lingayat community to which deputy chief minister B.S. Yediyuirappa, who was to take over from Kumaraswamy, belongs.
As Kumaraswamy chalks out strategy to keep his flock together, the Congress is hoping that its high command will act soon to end its dilemma on forming an alternative government.