HD Kumaraswamy said he wanted to remove the black spot of shame from his father’s political career; would not join BJP, but is he just acting upon a well put out bait by the Gandhi-Vadra family?
With the election results out for Karnataka, BJP emerged as the single largest party but missed the magic numbers by 8 seats. This doesn’t give them clear majority but then their close second, Congress was far from hitting the clear majority unless they got the support of JD(S).
Congress in a haste, in order to save itself from ignominy contacted JD(S) after an early indication that they would not come to power with a clear majority. Congress, upon the gradual disclosing of results, promptly contacted JD(S) chief Deve Gowda and discussed terms of a possible alliance with Congress giving JD(S) ‘unconditional’ support.
Congress may have laid low after the early exit polls but had a Plan B ready to stop BJP from coming to power. Congress was assured that if they made JD(S) an offer they couldn’t refuse; they could possibly stop BJP from getting to power in the 21st state in the country. BJP, on the other hand, was anticipating a clear majority but was denied of the same because of just 8 seats. Congress and JD(S) swiftly came to the conclusion of joining hands with Congress giving JD(S) support from outside.
BJP who had played the coalition card during the Manipur, Goa and Meghalaya election did not anticipate their own trick getting backfired on them. Congress in the past did also make such coalition governments of unconditional support if we look back to Delhi election of 2013. Congress used BJP’s tried and tested trick against them as they joined hands with JD(S) and offered the Chief Ministerial post to HD Kumaraswamy who was waiting for a long time to become the Chief Minister again.
According to sources, the final decision of giving unconditional support to Deve Gowda led JD(S) and head a coalition government was taken at a meeting between Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday afternoon.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi reportedly called JD(S) HD Deve Gowda and talked about the possible alliance in the state. The party sources said that the UPA chairperson has been constantly in touch with the JD(S) chief. Sources said that at Priyanka’s suggestion Rahul agreed to offer the chief ministership to HD Kumaraswamy despite his party winning just half of the seats of that of Congress.
Rahul had earlier turned down the idea of a pre-poll alliance with the JD(S). He had in February called the JD(S) a “B team involved in an undercover arrangement with the BJP”. He along with Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, believed they were in pole position in the campaign.
The country under the influence of Modi wave forgot how strong Congress- JD(S) relationships have been in the past. Since the time Deve Gowda became the Prime Minister because of Sonia Gandhi, JD(S) was always indebted to the Congress. Now, when it had the chance to payback and yet stay in power, JD(S) chief stepped up and took the bait to keep BJP out of Karnataka. JD(S) has been given the opportunity to step from the front and take the lead in this coalition. JD(S) MLAs definitely have more power now than what they would have if they were in an alliance with BJP.
The question everyone is asking isthat how will the Congress govern with its president side-tracked and the former president and her daughter taking the highest level of decisions when it comes to the elections?
The turn of events in Karnataka has again put a question mark over Rahul’s ability to stitch together alliances.
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