The BJP's dream to have its first CM in the south this October may end in a whimper if its coalition partner in Karnataka, the Janata Dal(S), thwarts the saffron brigade.
Janata Dal(S) likely to shake hands with Congress, sinking BJP’s southern dreams
BANGALORE: The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) dream to have its first chief minister in the south this October may end in a whimper if its coalition partner in Karnataka, the Janata Dal(S), thwarts the saffron brigade and unites with the Congress.
The trouble, brewing between the two parties for some time now, spilled over on Thursday with the BJP ministers boycotting a Cabinet meeting. A coordination committee meeting of the two parties that was scheduled to meet and discuss their differences on Friday was postponed ostensibly on account of a local festival.
The BJP and the JD(S) formed a coalition government in February 2006 with the understanding that they would share the chief minister's post for 20 months each till the 2009 Assembly elections.
HD Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) was given the first chance to be the chief minister since his party had facilitated the new coalition by pulling out of its alliance with the Congress that was then ruling the state. For the record, JD (S) leader and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda at that time objected to his son joining hands with the "communal" BJP.
But it is Karnataka's worst-kept secret that it was the father who was the chief architect of the strategy to make his son the CM. The father and son continue to strike independent postures for public consumption.
That all was not well between the two coalition partners became clear after Kumaraswamy's remarks during his tour of Gulbarga in North Karnataka this week. He said forming coalition government with BJP had dented the JD(S)'s secular image.
On Thursday, BJP members gathered at party minister Ramachandra Gowda's place over breakfast to discuss their future plan of action to get the power from JD(S).
Instead of attending the cabinet meeting, BJP members thronged Kumarswamy's office to voice their anger over his statement. During the cabinet meeting, the CM was believed to have threatened to dissolve the assembly. The BJP is miffed with the appointment of a member of Karnataka Public Services Commission without consulting deputy CM BS Yediyurappa, who hopes to lead the government if transfer of power takes place.
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