Will Karnataka see coalition govt?

BANGALORE: The political turmoil that swept Karnataka after the 2004 fractured verdict in the assembly polls continued to haunt the state, claiming two coalition governments so far with chances of yet another coming to power.

The state has also been battered by administrative chaos due to political instability in the coalition era notwithstanding the Congress-JDS and JDS-BJP dispensation claims of having ensured development.

When Congress-JDS shook hands after May 2004 assembly elections none in the state visualised that it would mark the beginning of a political instability in the state.

The Congress-JDS coalition government installed on "secular plank" that brought these two parties together, had a bumpy ride from the beginning in the wake of JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda holding the trigger.

N Dharam Singh who became the first chief minister to lead a coalition government spent most of his time and energy in placating an ever agitated Gowda and could hardly devote time for governance.

Though BJP emerged as the single largest party with 79 seats and the Congress, that was humbled in the hustings took the second spot winning 64 seats, it was JDS' H D Deve Gowda who called the shots, even as his party finished a poor third with 58 seats.

As if by design or in tune with his political machinations, Gowda rejected BJP' offer to form the government, tapped the doors of Congress and succeeded.

Soon after BJPs' B S Yediyurappa who held Finance portfolio presented his second budget during this march, Gowda started taking pot shots at his coalition partner and issued veiled threats over power transfer, which he translated into action later.

In the wake of JDS bringing down the coalition, Congress camp has become active again to install its own government. Though all the political parties have been openly making statements that they will go to people's court, backroom strategists of the Congress are wooing disgruntled JDS MLAs.

Several MLAs privately have expressed unhappiness reneging on its power transfer assurance to BJP and fear backlash in their constituencies. Congress is willing to rule, if JDS men break, form a separate group and join it. Will the state witness one more government or face mid-term polls is the question that remains unanswered now?