Opportunistic alliance
The post-poll marriage of convenience between the Congress and the Janata
Dal (Secular) was a setback for Bharatiya Janata Party in spite of it being the single largest
party. The BJP took a serious dent to its image at the national level, and was
left without both power and the moral authority to attack the political
opportunism of the Congress and the JD(S).
The deal-clincher for the Congress now was its readiness to hand over the
post of Chief Minister to the JD(S). In 2004,
it formed a post-poll coalition with the JD(S). The Congress-JD(S) government
did not last the full term then, and the JD(S) formed a short-lived government
with the BJP’s help.
Although, BJPs image took a dent, in no way Congress image has improved.
People of Karnataka have ignored the Congress despite they trying to divide the
Hindus and making an all-out effort to defeat BJP. CM designate have merely 37
MLAs (thanks to people of one caste) just to be in power. But everyone knows
pretty well that the rug under his feet will be pulled any time. This unholy
alliance is against the wishes of people of Karnataka. But then, these
politicians are busy in fulfilling their desires rather than the wishes of
people of Karnataka.
Currently the unifying factor among the opposition parties is their Anti
-BJP factor which is due to the overbearing and big brother attitude of BJP.
BJP is also ditching its regional allies as Congress did earlier to have a
complete control of political space .But history says that in a country like
India with many diversities taking complete control of political space will not
ultimately succeed. Accommodating the various social and regional groups will
only bring strong India.
There are people who condemn BJP but not Congress of JD(S) in spite of the
brazen attempt of JDS to form a government although it got very less number of
seats. If Congress does
everything it is fine, if BJP does, it is wrong. Actually the mandate is against the Congress as many ministers lost and
Mr Siddaramaiah lost in one constituency in one seat by large margin and scraped
through in other seat by just 1600 votes. All these things are okay but BJP
should not come to power. Strange! If the BJP lures MLAs into its fold, it is
called undemocratic and money-bag politics. But if the Congress offers all of
its MLAs to the JD(S) for the sake of power, it is called democracy. Till the
date of elections, the Congress and JD(S) were bitter enemies baying for each
other’s blood. But when they realised that the only way to get power is to join
hands with a hitherto foe, they quickly changed tactics.
What a tragedy it is that H D Kumaraswamy will be Karnataka’s chief
minister? A man with just 37 legislators out of 224 members in the Assembly
will rule six and a half crore citizens of this state! Even now, Congress is
trying to show its hegemonic tendencies. The sooner it shelves it, the better
for the opposition unity in future. JD(S) is not known for its ethics or
ethical behavior. Congress supported Deve Gowda in 1996 to keep BJP out. And it
resulted in 1998 and 1999 sweep of BJP. Don't expect BJP not to use this in
their campaign in LS polls of 2019 in Karnataka. Also there is the SC monitored
mechanism of Cauvery dispute resolution with TN. Cauvery board has to be formed
now and, local BJP leaders will surely oppose this.
There are, however, two noteworthy fruits of the Karnataka drama. The
EVMs and the Judiciary are no longer being blamed and this augurs well for the
future. Also how close the BJP came to eclipsing the joint total of the
Congress and the JDS in a state where it is not a naturally dominant force - as
it is in the Hindi heartland.
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