As LS polls ends in K’taka, speculations of longevity of coalition govt fuelled

Team Udayavani, Apr 23, 2019, 6:46 PM IST

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Bengaluru: Speculation about the longevity of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka has again come to the fore as the second phase polls drew to a close, with state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa Tuesday predicting its collapse after the May 23 election results.

“We will win 22 Lok Sabha seats.

After we win,the disagreement between Congress and JD(S) will increase hundred times and everyone expects it will have its impact on the government. Let’s wait and watch,” Yeddyurappa told reporters in Shimoga.

“The rivalry has increased, there are internal bickerings… I don’t see the Congress-JD(S) government surviving at any cost in the current political situation,” he said.

Speculations are rife within political circles that any adverse results for the coalition in the Lok Sabha polls, which they fought in alliance, will have its implications on the longevity of the H D Kumaraswamy government.

Though the leadership of both parties decided to fight the polls jointly, it was not acceptable to their grassroot level workers, who had been fighting each other fordecades, especially in the old Mysuru region.

With disapproval from local party workers, it remains to be seen how the coalition performs in the Lok Sabha polls, where transfer of votes between both parties is crucial for them to defeat the BJP.

To a question that some ruling partyMLAs were in touch with him, Yeddyurappa said he has not contacted anybody and had been busy with the election campaign.

Asked about reports that 15-20 coalition MLAs would express their displeasure on May 23, the day on which the results are announced, he said “there is such information…

let’s wait and watch as to what will happen.”

Stating that any kind of political development mayoccur in Karnataka after the Lok Sabha polls, Yeddyurappa said the “party’s central leadership will decide as things emerge.

Tillthen I will continue as the opposition leader.”

To a question about any attempts at “OperationKamala”, he said “we have nothing to do with it. it is just acreation of the media. You should ask about the stand ofdisgruntled Congress legislators, what they will do.”

Operation Kamala” (Operation Lotus) is a reference to BJP’s successful attempt to engineer defection of opposition legislators to ensure the stability of the B S Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka in 2008.

Interestingly, rebel Congress MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, who has been in touch with the BJP for some time now, Tuesday hinted at quitting the party.

Jarkiholi, who had camped in Mumbai along with some party colleagues in January, pushing the state to political turmoil, did not campaign for Congress candidates in the Lok Sabha polls and even stayed away from Rahul Gandhi’s events.

Jarkiholi’s statement gave ammunition to the BJP, with several party leaders on Tuesday signaling the weakening of the coalition government in the state and its collapse.

However, not wishing to comment on Jarkiholi’sstatement, Yeddyurappa said “let’s wait and see what decisionhe will take.”

To a question about Jarkiholi stating he was only “technically” in the Congress, the BJP chief said there are manydisgruntled people like him in that party who have stayed awayfrom the party during campaigning.

Congress has hit out at BJP, stating that its “third grade”leaders are whining about the collapse of the coalition government.

“With the second phase polling in the state, BJP leaders are perturbed by the fear of defeat. The coalition government is stable and will win more than 22 seats,” Karnataka Congress said in a tweet.

Hitting back,Yeddyurappa said the Congress-JD(S) leaders, instead of blaming the BJP, should keep their flock together and concentrate on good administration.

“Is keeping the Congress-JD(S) flock together my responsibility or theirs?”he asked.