Fresh uncertainty over transfer of power in Karnataka

Fresh uncertainty prevails in Karnataka over the scheduled transfer of power from the JD (S) to the BJP in the wake of renewed camaraderie between leaders of JD (S) and Congress, causing concern among the BJP, which is looking forward to tasting power for the first time in South India.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s decision to call on former Chief Minister Dharam Singh at the Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi on Wednesday and his decision to fly with Dharam Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council H K Patil in a helicopter to from Bangalore to Mysore on Thursday to participate in the centenary celebrations of the co-operative movement have triggerred speculations over the revival of JD (S)-Congress ties.

The bonhomie between the JD (S) and Congress leaders, particularly Dharam Singh, who has not ruled out offer of support to the JD (S) if it snaps its ties with the “communal” BJP, has sent alarm bell ringing in the BJP camp.

Several JD (S) leaders including Ministers and MLAs have already publicly opposed the scheduled transfer of power to the BJP. Housing Minister D T Jayakumar created a furore in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly when he openly sought continuation of Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister, causing embarrassment to the BJP members and its Chief Ministerial candidate B S Yediyurappa, who was also present in the House.

As October 3, the date set for transfer of power from JD (S) to BJP in Karnataka draws nearer, the voices of dissent in the JD (S) appear to be only growing louder. After Labour Minister Iqbal Ansari, who was the first to come out against transfer of power, D T Jayakumar and party MLAs Venkatesh and B C Patil have also sought for continuation of Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister.

B C Patil, an actor-turned JD (S) MLA, who represents Hirekerur assembly constituency in Shimoga, which neighbours Shikaripur assembly segment represented by Yediyurappa, said the JD (S) should face elections instead of handing over power to the BJP. “I will not compromise on the issue of opposing the transfer of power to BJP, particularly Yediyurappa, who has been blocking all the developmental programmes in my constituency”, he said.

Skirmishes between the cadres of the JD (S) and the BJP in parts of rural Karnataka have also been reported in the run up to the transfer of power. In Anekal, a BJP activist was killed and the house of a JD (S) worker was torched, when partymen belonging to the coalition partners locked horns last week.

Concerned over the uncertainty on transfer of power, five BJP MLAs chose to hit out at the JD (S) leaders, who are seeking the continuation of Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister even after his term comes to an end in October.

The BJP MLAs, who spoke to reporters in the lounge of the Legislative Assembly have strongly defended Yediyurappa’s administrative capabilities in the wake of his criticism by the JD (S) leaders. He is an efficient administrator and the entire party is behind him, the BJP MLAs said and criticized the JD (S) leaders, particularly Housing Minister D T Jayakumar, who had opposed transfer of power in the Assembly.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has done little to clear the air of confusion over the issue of transfer of power to the BJP. “Wait and watch till October 3”, he remarked when reporters sought to his reaction to the speculations over the issue in political circles.