10-02-2007, 02:40 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Untenable alliance </b>
The Pioneer Edit Desk
Let Karnataka have mid-term poll
Unless there is a miracle, it is unlikely the scheduled transfer of power in Karnataka will take place on October 3 when Mr HD Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) is supposed to hand over the Chief Minister's post to Mr BS Yediyurappa of the BJP. With no resolution to the political crisis in sight till late Monday evening, when BJP Ministers are believed to have handed over their resignation letters to Mr Yediyurappa, it is entirely possible that the BJP-JD(S) Government which came to power 20 months ago will fall apart, forcing a mid-term Assembly election, unless, of course, Mr HD Deve Gowda decides to cut a deal with his party's former ally, the Congress. The manner in which the alliance has unravelled over the past week is most unedifying and shows the BJP in extremely poor light. Given the fact that Mr Deve Gowda and his son, Mr Kumaraswamy, had made their reluctance to part with the Chief Minister's office abundantly clear, the central leadership of the BJP should have taken a more considered view and, rather than wait till the last minute, acted decisively in a manner that would have prevented the party's image from being severely dented. All the sabre-rattling that we are getting to hear from Bangalore is of little consequence at this stage; worse, it only highlights the fact that the BJP's central leadership opted for ad hocism rather than strategising for such a situation and converting it to its advantage by seizing the moral high ground. Today, the party is seen as hankering for power at any cost, regardless of the fact that its dignity lies in tatters in Karnataka - the fallout could also be felt elsewhere. The BJP would have partially redeemed itself had it chosen to walk out of the alliance and thus forced the issue, rather than be reduced to its present pathetic situation. Yes, the State leaders of the BJP are to blame for allowing matters to reach a point from which resuscitation of the alliance is virtually impossible. But the larger share of the blame lies with central leaders of the party who have clearly failed to act in time, betraying astonishing lack of political acumen.
<b>This is not to suggest that the JD(S) has behaved in an honourable manner or the Gowda clan is blemish free. On the contrary, by failing to keep their part of the power-sharing agreement, Mr Deve Gowda and Mr Kumaraswamy have only reinforced popular perception of their brand of amoral politics bereft of even the most rudimentary scruples. By coming up with one reason after another to delay the scheduled transfer of power, they have made a mockery of their commitment and reduced alliance politics to a farce. Mr Deve Gowda now claims that the local bodies elections, in which the JD(S) has won the second largest number of seats, are an indication that the people want his son to continue as Chief Minister. This is patently absurd, not least because local body elections do not decide who should be Chief Minister. Mr Kumaraswamy says that he will consult his party MLAs on October 5 as to whether he should hand over office to the BJP's nominee. Obviously, the legislators will urge him not to do so. That does not legitimise his decision to dishonour his solemn promise. There is only one way out of the unseemly mess: Let this Government fall and thus allow the people of Karnataka to elect a new Assembly and a new Government. To persist with the 'alliance' would be a farce. </b>
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The Pioneer Edit Desk
Let Karnataka have mid-term poll
Unless there is a miracle, it is unlikely the scheduled transfer of power in Karnataka will take place on October 3 when Mr HD Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) is supposed to hand over the Chief Minister's post to Mr BS Yediyurappa of the BJP. With no resolution to the political crisis in sight till late Monday evening, when BJP Ministers are believed to have handed over their resignation letters to Mr Yediyurappa, it is entirely possible that the BJP-JD(S) Government which came to power 20 months ago will fall apart, forcing a mid-term Assembly election, unless, of course, Mr HD Deve Gowda decides to cut a deal with his party's former ally, the Congress. The manner in which the alliance has unravelled over the past week is most unedifying and shows the BJP in extremely poor light. Given the fact that Mr Deve Gowda and his son, Mr Kumaraswamy, had made their reluctance to part with the Chief Minister's office abundantly clear, the central leadership of the BJP should have taken a more considered view and, rather than wait till the last minute, acted decisively in a manner that would have prevented the party's image from being severely dented. All the sabre-rattling that we are getting to hear from Bangalore is of little consequence at this stage; worse, it only highlights the fact that the BJP's central leadership opted for ad hocism rather than strategising for such a situation and converting it to its advantage by seizing the moral high ground. Today, the party is seen as hankering for power at any cost, regardless of the fact that its dignity lies in tatters in Karnataka - the fallout could also be felt elsewhere. The BJP would have partially redeemed itself had it chosen to walk out of the alliance and thus forced the issue, rather than be reduced to its present pathetic situation. Yes, the State leaders of the BJP are to blame for allowing matters to reach a point from which resuscitation of the alliance is virtually impossible. But the larger share of the blame lies with central leaders of the party who have clearly failed to act in time, betraying astonishing lack of political acumen.
<b>This is not to suggest that the JD(S) has behaved in an honourable manner or the Gowda clan is blemish free. On the contrary, by failing to keep their part of the power-sharing agreement, Mr Deve Gowda and Mr Kumaraswamy have only reinforced popular perception of their brand of amoral politics bereft of even the most rudimentary scruples. By coming up with one reason after another to delay the scheduled transfer of power, they have made a mockery of their commitment and reduced alliance politics to a farce. Mr Deve Gowda now claims that the local bodies elections, in which the JD(S) has won the second largest number of seats, are an indication that the people want his son to continue as Chief Minister. This is patently absurd, not least because local body elections do not decide who should be Chief Minister. Mr Kumaraswamy says that he will consult his party MLAs on October 5 as to whether he should hand over office to the BJP's nominee. Obviously, the legislators will urge him not to do so. That does not legitimise his decision to dishonour his solemn promise. There is only one way out of the unseemly mess: Let this Government fall and thus allow the people of Karnataka to elect a new Assembly and a new Government. To persist with the 'alliance' would be a farce. </b>
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