HD Kumaraswamy, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka who, due to an alliance with the Indian National Congress had made it a regular feature to cry and burst into tears at the drop of a hat, has been subtly signalling his personal and the JD(S)’ inclination to merge/ally with the BJP and become a part of the current NDA government. Kumaraswamy, it must be remembered, had played a pivotal role in betraying the people’s mandate in 2018, which was clearly in the BJP’s favour. Of course, having served as a momentary and largely inconsequential Chief Minister, a conversation with the man now will reveal that it was his life’s biggest blunder to ally with the Congress.
Chatter is increasing by the day about a possible merger or alliance between the saffron party and the JD(S). In fact, senior JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti had gone to the extent of saying that the BJP and his party were natural partners. On the issue of possible resistance to a merger or alliance of the two parties from JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda, Horatti said, “We have asked him to stay quiet; we will handle everything.” Soon, Kumaraswamy took to put down the fire put up by his colleague, and said that he wants to work hard by himself for the next 2.5 years to get a complete majority for the JD(S) in the next assembly elections.
The BJP, meanwhile, dismissed all allegations of it looking to have anything to do with the JD(S) soon. Particularly disturbing for the saffron party were reports of an alliance between it and JD(S), leading to Kumaraswamy becoming Chief Minister once again for the remainder of the assembly tenure. Karnataka BJP in-charge Arun Singh said on Monday that there will be no change of guard in the state government and that current the Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa will continue to hold his chair. Chief Minister Yediyurappa also termed reports of a merger between the two parties as absolutely fictitious.
HD Kumaraswamy, perhaps gauging the saffron party’s mood of not allying with the JD(S), said, “Basavaraj Horatti’s statement is his statement and that is not the party’s decision. Here in this issue, individual leaders have their version which is not the party’s stand. Our party will not yield to any national party. When I was the chief minister, the Prime Minister positively responded to me. Our party will not merge with any national or regional party as we have a different background.”
Kumaraswamy added, “Political activities are BJP’s internal matter. I don’t want to interfere with their party’s decision…I am not thinking about a merger or coalition.”
Earlier, in an interesting development reported by TFI, Kumaraswamy also said that the JD(S) will support any good work taken up by the BJP government. He also said that he favoured the present BJP government to continue, thereby delivering a fatal blow to the Congress’ hopes of returning to power in Karnataka.
Kumaraswamy going all guns blazing against the Congress to perhaps win over the BJP has, however, definitely not worked. The BJP seems more than content all by itself in the state of Karnataka, where it is rapidly growing from strength to strength.