Bengaluru: With BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi choosing to remain oblivious to former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa's existence during his rally in the city, will Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) see a tectonic shift in its political alignment ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls? A week after the Legislature session at Belgaum is the self-imposed deadline set by the party to take the call, say insiders.
After pledging support to Modi for PM, the Lingayat strongman now finds himself at the crossroads. Should KJP wait endlessly for NDA (or the BJP) to embrace him or simply take the plunge into the ‘Third Front' being propelled by Samajwadi Party in the state?
With SP's state president C.P. Yogeshwar in talks with BSR Congress' B Sreeramulu, KJP and JD(S), it might come as no big surprise if the most unlikely of allies join hands to fight the two big national parties.
According to Yeddyurappa's aides, December 15 will be the D-day, when the Party is most likely to make up its mind. "KJP can no longer afford to delay the decision. A week after the Belgaum session, KJP will come out with a statement," says a source.
Meanwhile, the Third Front is not just another mute idea the KJP and JD(S) are flirting with. According to sources, the political rivals, after a reality check, now see a bigger opportunity in striking an alliance. In fact, the JD(S) is keen on meeting Yeddyurappa to discuss the possibility but is hesitant to make the first move knowing well Yeddyurappa's inclination towards NDA.
"JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda is unsure of winning Hassan in 2014 without the support of KJP. His constituency has Lingayat voters dominating Arasikere, Kadur, Belur and Sakleshpur. KJP enjoys a favourable position in about 14 Parliamentary segments based on voting patterns in the Assembly elections.
A JD(S)-KJP combo can consolidate the Vokkaliga and Lingayat votes and also garner some of the scheduled caste votes. With SP in the scene, Muslims and Yadavas are sure to find an alternative to Congress in the State," sums up a source.
