Murky politics

The brazen cynicism displayed by chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and Janata Dal (Secular) president HD Deve Gowda in their refusal to hand over the chief minister’s post to alliance partner BJP according to an understanding reached 20 months ago has shocked even the hardened cynic.

There is no doubt that Kumaraswamy and Deve Gowda were loath to leave the chief minister’s post, but it was thought they would find some plausible excuse to play out their stalling game. But the two leaders did not even feel the need to maintain a facade of good faith. It was a raw assertion of political might.

Deve Gowda’s role in the JD(S)-BJP coalition arrangement is quite instructive with regard to the mendacious politics adopted by the former prime minister. When
Kumaraswamy staged a literal coup of the state unit of his party to join hands with the BJP to form a government, Deve Gowda expressed righteous indignation because he could not for a moment think of joining hands with the ‘communal’ BJP.

As president of JD (S), he had written to the Speaker of the Assembly asking for the disqualification of Kumaraswamy and 36 other party legislators. But when the time came to hand over the chief minister’s post, he was the main strategist and decision-maker.

Both Kumaraswamy and Deve Gowda cited the communal politics of the BJP as a reason for not honouring the commitment. Kumaraswamy even cited the fact that the BJP had lied to the Supreme Court about not demolishing the Babri Masjid in December 1992, and how it had not kept its word. He argued that it is difficult to trust such a party. If this is not cynicism, what is?

The BJP has been left red-faced in this murky episode, which raises serious questions about political norms in the coalition era. There are limits even to realpolitik, and people are bound to reject unprincipled politics through their electoral verdict.

It can be inferred that Kumaraswamy took the risk of being reduced to a minority government because he wanted to remain in office at the time of going to elections. Had he kept his word, it would have been a BJP chief minister who would have gone to the polls.

The chief minister and his father may have felt that the BJP would take advantage of their man being the chief minister. But the governor can exercise his right to dismiss the minority government, ask for the imposition of President’s rule and then call for elections. The murky political game in Karnataka is not yet over.