Operation Kamala flops again: Coalition survives, BJP sulks

The JDS-Congress coalition in Karnataka has survived another attempt by the BJP to topple the government. The saffron party, which was hoping to make good the growing resentment within the Congress party, had to once again abort its plans to destabilise the government for want of adequate number of rebel MLAs. However, this time, it was not the BJP which was trying to mop up the numbers, but the disgruntled Congress MLAs, who made a desperate bid to pull their fellow legislators for a major coup.  

The two-day high drama in state politics reached an anti-climax after the Congress succeeded in breaking the unity of the rebels by dangling a new carrot—cabinet berth to the rebels.  

The much hyped Operation Kamala was meant to be a quiet affair. Two days back, Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was dropped from the Kumaraswamy cabinet and Ballari rural MLA B. Nagendra, upset with the Congress after the induction of E. Tukaram into the cabinet from Ballari, led the rebellion and landed in a Mumbai hotel with a handful of MLAs.  

Meanwhile, both the coalition partners and the BJP traded charges of poaching of legislators against one another. Even as the BJP claimed that their legislators were being lured by the opponents, and chose to confine its legislators in a resort in Gurugram in Haryana, the "missing" Congress MLAs being spotted in a Mumbai hotel along with some BJP leaders blew the lid off a well-guarded secret of the saffron party. Yeddyurappa, who was sworn in as the chief minister but stepped down within three days after failing to muster the numbers in his first attempt, was hoping to pull off 'Operation Kamala' in a quiet and meticulous manner. 

This time, even the BJP legislators were kept in the dark about the last-ditch effort of former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to wrest power in Karnataka ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Surprisingly, the BJP central leadership, too, lent its support to dwarf the coalition into a minority government.

Politics is about possibilities and Ramesh Jarkiholi's growing disillusionment with the Congress was feeding Yeddyurappa's ambitions. The BJP vehemently denied there was any attempt by the party to poach any MLA. But the BJP confining its own legislators, 104 MLAs in a hotel in Haryana soon after the BJP national council meet concluded in Delhi, triggered speculation.  

The coalition partners who were caught unawares, went into a huddle at Kumara Krupa Guest House in Bengaluru. AICC general secretary and Karnataka in-charge K.C. Venugopal and Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy sat through marathon meetings, to evolve a strategy to smoke out their disgruntled members. To make matters worse, two independents—Ranebennur MLA R. Shankar and Mulbagilu MLA H. Nagesh—sent letters to the Governor withdrawing their support to the coalition government. 

The Congress high command finally gave its nod to dangle a lollipop—cabinet berths for the rebels.   

The Congress in a firefighter mode sent out feelers to its rebels, and also hinted at dropping senior ministers from the cabinet to accommodate the rebels. Simultaneously, the JDS, too, made efforts to reach out to the MLAs as Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy unleashed the state intelligence machinery to checkmate his rivals. 

For once, even the Congress resisted the temptation to fall back on its famed troubleshooter—water resources minister D.K. Shivakumar, as the party feared that Shivakumar's mere presence would irk Ramesh Jarkiholi, and further precipitate the situation. 

In fact, Shivakumar had expressed his displeasure over CM Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah's silence even after they had got reports about the BJP's "offer" to the Congress MLAs. "Both of them had the information that our MLAs are being lured by the BJP, which offered to give Rs 50 crore. Our own MLAs had confided about it. If I were to be in the loop, I would have exposed each one of them. We have the strength and means to locate and bring back our MLAs," Shivakumar had told the media before the party decided against sending him for mediation.  

The mind games being played out by the coalition finally seems to have yielded result as a few of the "missing" Congress MLAs slowly started appearing before the media in Bengaluru, and dismissed reports of them being in the BJP camp. MLAs Bheema Nayak,  Pratapgouda Patil and Amaregouda Bayyapur insisted they were on a private visit to Shirdi and other tourist places with their families. Some others updated their social media accounts to prove they were on personal tours and had nothing to do with the Operation Kamala.

All eyes are now on the Congress Legislature Party meeting convened on Friday in Bengaluru as the turnout at the crucial meeting will be a give-away of the things to follow. If the rebel faction led by Ramesh Jarkiholi fails to turn up at the meeting defying CLP leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah's diktat, it will trigger more speculation over the possibility of the BJP reviving its Operation Kamala.

The saffron camp is now divided over the party's bid to destabilise the coalition government. Many seniors confided that though the coalition is on a rough patch, the BJP should focus on the very crucial Lok Sabha instead of wasting time. Some leaders are worried about the horse trading charges and the allegations of huge money being offered to the rebels. "Everybody knows the coalition has problems, the Congress MLAs are disgruntled, there is no governance in the state. Now, these horse-trading charges are enough to make BJP the fall guy. Should we risk it is the question," says a senior BJP leader.  

Coalition attacks Modi, Shah

Greed for power has pushed the BJP to this pitiable state, charged the Congress leaders, who dubbed the saffron party as undemocratic.  

"The Narendra Modi and Amit Shah-led government at the Centre is defying the Constitution and using intimidating tactics against their opponents. The Centre is missing the CBI, IT and ED for their political means. The BJP central leaders are openly supporting Yeddyurappa in horse-trading," said KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao. Rao hit back at the media, too. "I am saddened by the fact that no media is questioning the BJP which is resorting to unconstitutional means to wrest power. The media has no qualms about tarnishing the image of our legislators, but is reluctant to question the BJP," said Rao. 

Siddaramaiah called out Yeddyurappa's age and said the BJP had crossed call limits and Yeddyurappa had no maturity even at 76. "BJP is shameless and they don't respect people's mandate or believe in democracy," said Siddaramaiah. Taking on Modi, Siddaramaiah also tweeted, "Mr. Saaf Niyat @narendramodi, is allowing your disgraceful @BJP4Karnataka leaders to destabilize govt a 'Saaf Niyat' towards democracy? Your PR slogans does not hide your actual 'Niyat' & your 'Sahi Vikas' should go beyond developing Resorts. First show your Niyat to people!! (sic)".

In a second tweet, Siddaramaiah mocked at BJP's five-state poll debacle, too, saying, "@BJP4India has a legacy of 'Gandha Niyat, Resort Vikas'. Their 'Operation Kamala' is not new & they will indulge whenever they feel politically threatened. Recent miserable loss in 5 states is the result of their ongoing attempt in Karnataka which will fail (sic)."

JDS patriarch H.D. Devegowda, who is said to have told AICC chief Rahul Gandhi "to set his house in order", slammed Modi saying, "The PM who goes on to preach morals and values to everyone is backing Operation Kamala. They are offering Rs 30 crore to Rs 50 crore to legislators to cross over. What can be more shameful than this?"