In a setback to the coalition Government of the Congress and the Janata Dal(S) in Karnataka, two Independent MLAs on Tuesday withdrew their support even as the BJP shifted nearly 100 of its MLAs to Manesar in Haryana. Unfazed by these developments, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said he was “totally relaxed” and there was no threat to his Government.
R Shankar of Ranebennur and MLA H Nagesh from Mulabagilu Assembly constituency wrote to Governor Vaju Bhai Vala saying they were withdrawing support to the coalition Government led by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
These Independent MLAs had extended their support to the Congress-JD(S) alliance when it was formed in May last. Political experts say at this juncture it may not affect the stability of the coalition Government since the Congress with 80 MLAs and the JD(S) with 37 enjoy a clear majority in the 224-member Karnataka legislature where halfway mark is 113.
Congress leader and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said, “We have heard that the two Independent MLAs want to withdraw support to the Government. As Independents, they are free to take any decision they want. They had extended support when the Government was formed and one of them was made a Minister for a while.”
Asserting that he was totally relaxed and is sure about his strength, the Chief Minister said, “If two MLAs withdraw their support, what will be the numbers? I’m totally relaxed. I know my strength. Whatever is going on in media in the past week, I am enjoying,” he said.
Taking a swipe at the BJP, the Chief Minister said, “What is going to happen? If two Independents declare support (to BJP). What will be the numbers?”
Amid claims that the BJP was trying to lure the Congress MLAs and whisked away three of them to Mumbai, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal held a meeting with Kumaraswamy after holding discussions with former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, senior Minister DK Shivakumar, Home Minister MB Patil and other party functionaries.
Later speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said, “This ‘Operation Lotus’ is a false alarm created by media. There is no threat to the Government. I enjoy the news channels running programmes like soap opera about threat to the Government.”
Operation Lotus refers to BJP’s poaching of MLAs from other parties during BS Yeddyurappa’s first stint as Chief Minister.
JD(S) chief and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda too said nothing would happen to the Government headed by his son. “It is not in anybody’s hands, including the media. However much you cry hoarse, nothing will happen because it is in the hands of God. When a party (JDS) of 38 MLAs gets the blessings of a national party (Congress), it is all the wish of God,” Gowda said.
Gowda also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over allegations that Rs 60 crore and ministerial positions were offered to the MLAs of the ruling coalition by the BJP.
“Does it look good that a national party (BJP) is hoarding its 104 MLAs? I am not talking about Amit Shah but Modi, who talks a lot throughout the day,” he said.
Brushing aside any threat to the Kumaraswamy Government, Venugopal said the coalition Government would continue despite the BJP’s “ugly and dirty” horse-trading attempts.
“We are confident that the Kumaraswamy Government will continue. Even though they are offering a lot of things to our MLAs, we are very confident,” he said. “We are in touch with all our MLAs. Our people are with us. Our Government will continue,” he added.
Karnataka is witnessing a high political drama as there is speculation that BJP is attempting to destabilise the coalition Government to send message that such an experiment of alliance will not work after the Lok Sabha polls if the Opposition parties cobble up a Government at the Centre.
In another development, one of the three missing MLAs Anand Singh met Congress leaders on Tuesday morning in Bengaluru and said that he was not in touch with the BJP leadership.
“There is no serious concern. A lot of this is a media creation and a game being played by a desperate BJP. We are contacting all our MLAs, “Congress leader and Karnataka observer KC Venugopal said after meeting Anand Singh.
According to BJP sources, one of the MLAs Umesh Jadhav from Chincholi who was aspiring to be a Minister in a December Cabinet expansion has been spotted with BJP leaders in Delhi.
It is believed that at best five to seven Congress MLAs might be in touch with the BJP leaderships for not for finding places in the coalition Government. To destabilise the Government, BJP needs to lure 11 Congress MLAs so that with the help of 104 of its own MLAs it could stake claim for an alternative Government.
Ahead of 2019 general elections, the political development in Karnataka will have a bearing on the national politics. The JD(S) has been demanding 12 out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, but the Congress has refused to part with so many seats. The Congress feels that the JD(S) has a realistic chance of winning in around 4 to 6 seats and hence the number should be restricted to just that. In the 2014 elections, the BJP had won 17, Congress 9 and the JD(S), 2. In the 224-member Assembly, BJP has 104 members, Congress 79, JD(S) 37, BSP, KPJP and Independent one each, besides Speaker. BSP, KPJP and an Independent are supporting the coalition.
