Bangalore, October 11
Having suffered heavily in the last Assembly elections in 2008 after the BJP cleverly exploited the issue of “betrayal” by Janata Dal (Secular), it may appear a little strange that JD(S) headed by former Prime Minister Deve Gowda will once again indulge in activities that may be construed as manipulative.

But HD Kumaraswamy, former Karnataka Chief Minister and Deve Gowda’s son, did exactly that knowing well that his Vokkaliga voters would appreciate the attempt to bring down Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa who is from Lingayat community.

The faction-ridden BJP —rocked by various scandals, including rape and land scams — gave Kumar-aswamy, state JD(S) chief, the perfect opportunity to fish in troubled water.

Kumaraswamy’s role in the revolt came out in the open when he visited Goa to prevent rebel MLAs from returning to the BJP fold following their meeting with Tourism Minister and Bellary mining baron Janardhan Reddy in Goa.

Reddy, who had himself engineered a revolt against Yeddyurappa last year, has his own reason to try to save the government this time. A non-BJP administration in the state will almost certainly order a CBI probe into Reddy’s mining operations.

Kumaraswamy told journalists in Goa that he had come on a private visit. One day later, Zameer Ahmed Khan, JD(S) MLA, escorted 13 rebel MLAs to Chennai in a special flight. A despondent Janardhan Reddy, having failed in his mission, returned to Bangalore. Kumaraswamy first appeared publicly with the rebels at a press conference in Chennai yesterday. BJP state chief Eshrawappa had earlier released an audio CD containing the alleged recording of conversation between Kumaraswamy and BJP MLA Appachu Ranjan. Kumaraswamy asks Ranjan to abstain from voting and assures him that his requirements will “be taken care of”.

Kumaraswamy, being an MP, was not present in the House today when the crucial trust vote took place. His brother HD Revanna is the leader of the JD(S) contingent in the House. Kumaraswamy was present before the Raj Bhavan, Governor’s official residence, where the opposition MLAs turned up after the fracas in the Assembly.

JD(S) has only 28 members in the 224-member strong Karnataka Assembly. Even if the Congress with 73 members agrees to form a coalition with the JD(S), a Congress MLA is most likely to become CM after the dismissal of the BJP government.Perhaps Kumaraswamy and Congress want fresh elections to be held in the state after a brief period of President’s Rule. 

New Delhi, October 11
Even as Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yedyurappa happily waved a victory sign upon winning the vote of confidence in the state assembly today, the central leadership of the BJP appeared somewhat restrained in celebrating his victory, perhaps a little embarrassed at the drama in the state.

BJP president Nitin Gadkari issued a press statement taking note of this “Victory of democracy” in Karnataka which coincided with the birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narain.

Gadkari said, “On this auspicious occasion the victory of the BJP in Karnataka with full majority is the victory of democracy and a true homage to JP.” The BJP president blamed the Congress and the JD-S for engineering this crisis and said, “Despite the partisan and the unconstitutional attitude adopted by Congress and JD-S, the BJP has established its full majority in the Karnataka Vidhan Sabha and proved that any undemocratic step taken against the democratically elected government would meet the same fate.”

New Delhi, October 11
The Congress core group, headed by party president Sonia Gandhi, today decided to await tomorrow’s hearing of the Karnataka High Court on the case of the disqualified MLAs before taking a call on accepting Karnataka Governor HR Bharadwaj’s report recommending imposition of President’s Rule in the state.

This issue is expected to figure at tomorrow’s meeting of the Union Cabinet.

Although there is a strong view in the Congress that the imposition of Central rule is inevitable since a rejection of the Governor’s report would be tantamount to a no confidence in him, the party leadership favours caution, as any hurried decision could end up generating sympathy for the beleagured Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa. It is also examining the possibility of a fresh floor test as an option.

Tonight’s core group meeting ,therefore, decided to buy time and wait for the outcome of tomorrow’s hearing on the cases of the 16 disqualified MLAs.

Impatient Karnataka Congress leaders, however, are pressing the party leadership to accept the Governor’s report and keep the Assembly in suspended animation to allow them time to work out an arrangement for government formation.