Bengaluru: Contrary to expectations, the JD(S) seems unperturbed while the Congress and BJP try to pull the rug from beneath each other’s feet as it believes there is little chance of the coalition government in the state falling before the Parliamentary polls. A senior JD(S) leader claims the party is not worried about the outcome of the ongoing tussle between the Congress and BJP as it is more about national than state politics.
“We have reason not to react to the situation, as we don't perceive a threat to the coalition government,” he asserts, claiming that the BJP national leadership too is silent as it wants to show that the Congress is incapable of keeping its flock together or successfully stringing an alliance. “It’s aware that any attempt to bring down the government will be a big gamble and could backfire on it in many Parliamentary constituencies. Only one section of party workers, which is loyal to state BJP chief, B S Yeddyurappa , is attempting this. Both the RSS and BJP national leadership are against it,'' he contends.
JD(S) leaders also point out that for the BJP to succeed at the toppling game, it would need at least 15 Congress legislators to switch sides, taking its tally to 103 as against the 101 of the JD(S)-Congress combine, which may be a hard task to accomplish. “As far as our information goes, there is a tussle between the RSS and the BJP state unit headed by Mr Yeddyurappa as his supports fear he could be given an advisory role after the Parliamentary elections like Mr L K Advani owing to his advancing years. As this would affect his prospects and the RSS would become stronger, they are keen that he becomes Chief Minister soon. But Mr Yeddyurappa has only 50 per cent say in this. The Sangh Parivar and BJP national leadership will not agree,'' they argue.
Moreover, should the Congress MLAs resign from the party and the legislature, the BJP would have to win at least 10 of the ensuing by-elections, which could be hard to do against the combined might of the Congress and JD(S), they contend.
Besides, the BJP is dependent on Vokkaliga votes in some of its strongholds like Bengaluru South, Bengaluru North and Mysuru parliamentary constituencies and may not risk losing them by toppling a Vokkaliga Chief Minister, say JD(S) leaders, also dismissing the state BJP’s “tall” claims that it could win over 20 Parliamentary seats if it was in power in Vidhana Soudha.
Meanwhile, PWD Minister , H D Revanna believes that Mr Yeddyurappa will not become Chief Minister even if he succeeds in toppling the coalition government.
“This is not only my view but that of my friends in the BJP too. Even if the government is toppled, the Centre is more likely to impose President’s rule in the state, forcing it to go to polls along with Parliament,'' he claims.
