BJP ups its game, gets ready to spoil Congress- JD(S) party in Karnataka

The game is not over in Karnataka. The BJP believes it still has a chance to ensure the Congress and JD(S) combine is not able to form a government. The BJP is trying to bring about a community factor within the Lingayats and tribals among the elected Congress and JD(S) MLAs and is instigating them to rebel. Fearing that the BJP may succeed in its design to stall their government formation, the Congress has begun its damage control.

Led by Ghulam Nabi Azad, HD Kumaraswamy, DK Shivakumar and ex-chief minister Siddaramaiah are counselling MLAs so they do not fall prey to the BJP plot.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi is concerned about the situation as non-formation of a Congress-JD(S) government now in Karnataka would be considered a personal folly amidst the opposition theory of his lack of seriousness in the game.


And the Congress fears that the BJP is up to something sinister to stop them from forming the government.

Interestingly, both the BJP and the Congress are having a series of back-to-back high-level meetings in Delhi to ensure that they have the last laugh in Karnataka. BJP president Amit Shah is furious that despite emerging as single largest party, they have not been able to form the government. Interestingly, the Congress-JD(S) coalition is a kinky combination; Congress’ (ex) chief minister does not get along well with DK Shivakumar, who is believed to be the architect of the Congress-JD(S) alliance and far more ambitious than him. After a frosty relationship, Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy of JD(S), who is all set to be the chief minister have patched up.

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Deve Gowda and Siddaramaiah did not speak to each other for over 10 years but are now reflecting a new found camaraderie to make the ambitious Congress-JD(S) loveless marriage a success.

The Congress High Command believes that Karnataka is the best place to prove that Amit Shah and his so-called Chanakya politics flop in South India.

Unflustered, Shah is not giving up hope and is sensing a grand opportunity and strongly believes the BJP has the strategy and ground to shock the Congress with an unpleasant surprise.

Yes, the BJP is up to some game but I am confident that we will win the trust motion and form the government.

-HD Kumaraswamy, CM designate

As per the Congress-JD(S) arrangement, Kumaraswamy is slated to be the CM. The Congress decided upon its Karnataka Pradesh Congress Chief G Parameshwara, a Dalit to be the deputy chief minister. Dalits form over 19.5% population in the state.

However, the BJP has successfully planted that the deputy chief minister should be a Lingayat. The highest number of MLAs elected in the Congress belong to Lingayat community. While there are 16 Lingayat Congress MLAs, there are 11 Vokkaligas. CM Kumaraswamy is a Vokkaliga, so the BJP has successfully driven the Lingayat plank demanding that the deputy chief minister should be a Lingayat.

Out of the 222 MLAs elected in Karnataka, the highest number of MLAs, about 58, are Lingayatas. They include 38 from BJP, 16 from Congress and four JD(S) Lingayat MLAs. Lingayats are about 16% population in Karnataka. About 6.95% population in Karnataka is tribal.

Just because our CM Yeddyurappa had to resign, it is not over. The game in Karnataka has just begun. And this game will shape national politics.

-Top BJP Leader

Even as the Congress is planning to work upon a smooth power distribution package within the party and JD(S), a demand for stronger Muslim representation has also begun with the seven Congress Muslim MLAs demanding that they get a plum position in the ministry. Interestingly, although Karnataka has over 16% Muslim population, only seven Muslims got elected as MLAs and all represent Congress.

A top BJP leader told Mirror, “Just because our CM Yeddyurappa had to resign, it is not over. The game in Karnataka has just begun. And this game will shape national politics.”

BJP national president Amit Shah said, “The public mandate is not with the Congress. The BJP is the party with the largest number of seats. All attempts these anti-public parties have indulged in to stop BJP from forming the government will eventually backfire because it does not have public support.”

Shah said, “We are the largest party. More than half of Congress ministers and the JD(S) actually could not demean itself for celebrating victory of 37 seats”.

However, Kumarswamy admitted, “Yes, the BJP is up to some game but I am confident that we will win the trust motion and form the government.”

He refused to comment on the constitution of the ministry but did admit that there was a pressure that either there are two deputy chief ministers or a Lingayat is made a deputy chief minister.

We are the largest party. More than half of Congress ministers and the JD(S) actually could not demean itself for celebrating victory of 37 seats.

-Amit Shah, BJP President

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