The outcome of the Karnataka polls, the results for which will come on Tuesday, would play a major role in the proposed unity of the Opposition Parties here in Uttar Pradesh.
The Congress leaders, who silently supported the Samajwadi Party (SP)-Rastriya lok Dal (RlD) alliance candidate in Kairana Parliament and Noorpur Assembly bi-election, supported by Bahujan Samaj Party, claimed that the formation of new government in case of hung assembly in Karnataka, would have a direct impact on opposition unity for the 2019 Parliament elections.
“In case of hung assembly in Karnataka as pointed in many exit poll results shown by the channels, the future unity between the SP and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will largely be affected with the decision on which way, the former prime minister H D Deve Gowda’s JD(S) would go in case of hung assembly”, claimed a senior Congress leader and a former MlA.
The leader said that two main opposition parties here in UP- SP and BSP had joined hands during Gorakhpur and Phulpur Parliament bypolls and managed to defeat Bharatiya Janta Party candidates after which both announced to continue their alliance for 2019 Parliament elections. ``While SP and BSP announced to be on the same platform during 2019 Parliament elections but contrary to this, the two parties go against each other in the recent Karnataka Assembly polls”, the leader pointed while adding that SP chief Akhilesh Yadav openly campaigned for the Congress and Mayawati joined hands with the JD (S).
According to the Congress leader, in case of hung assembly coming in Karnatka, the JD (S) would turn out to be the king maker so it is important which way they will go. ``In case JD (S) support Congress to form government than in the next Parliament election in UP, the SP-BSP and Congress will go together”, the leader claimed. However, in case the JD (S), which has alliance with the BSP in Karnataka, decided to go with the Bharatiya Janta Party then it would be very difficult for the SP to have alliance with the Party (read BSP) in UP which had alliance with BJP in Karnataka. ``In case JD (S) will go with the BJP than either BSP had to quit it’s alliance with the Deve Gowda’s Party in Karnataka or with SP in UP’, the leader said while adding that hung assembly will definitely play a key role in opposition unity here in UP.
It may be mentioned that soon after the exit polls pointing towards hung assembly, Siddaramaiah, a backward class leader with a formidable reputation in Karnataka, played it’s card to attract JD (S) when he claimed that he was ready to make way for a Dalit chief minister if the Congress high command so decided.
The statement many felt was aimed at keeping the JD(S) in good humour so as to stitch an alliance in case of a fractured mandate. The move was also reportedly made as it will also have a large impact of opposition unity here in UP.