Is former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy sending feelers to the ruling BJP in Karnataka signalling at a future alliance between the JD(S) and the saffron party? While Kumaraswamy's words might imply that the JD(S) is cosying up to the BJP, his actions speak otherwise.
Ahead of the crucial bypolls to the 15 assembly seats in the state, Kumaraswamy claimed that the BJP government would be safe even after the elections. Along similar lines, his father and former prime minister H.D. Devegowda also insisted that B.S. Yediyurappa would remain the chief minister for the next three years and Congress leader Siddaramaiah would be the leader of the opposition.
The father-son duo have maintained their party would keep equidistance from both the national parties.
Kumaraswamy's recent remark on the deadlock in Maharashtra politics has sent clear signals that he has a soft corner for the BJP. He taunted the Congress for its attempts to join hands with the Shiv Sena, a “hard Hindutva” party, to keep the BJP, a “soft Hindutva” party, out of power.
In Karnataka, the bypoll strategies of the JD(S) smack of a larger gameplan—of bringing the BJP on its knees. The JD(S) is once again dreaming of being the kingmaker in the state.
The BJP can remain in power only if it can bag at least six out of the 15 seats. And, the JD(S) is hoping that the saffron party falls short of numbers and seeks their help.
The JD(S) is focussed on defeating the 15 rebel MLAs who toppled the coalition government.
"My party will work hard to ensure our candidates win. But our strategies will be such that they defeat the disqualified MLAs," said Kumaraswamy, admitting that the choice of candidates was to divide the BJP votes.
"We lost three seats due to rebellion. We are capable of wresting not three but at least 5-6 seats easily," said Kumaraswamy.
The JD(S) has fielded Lingayat candidates to divide the community's vote in at least four seats—Hirekerur, Kagwad, Athani and Ranebennur. The party has also managed to rope in a Lingayat seer, Shivalinga Shivacharya of Rattihalli mutt, to take on B.C. Patil in Hirekerur.
In the Vokkaliga belt, the JD(S) hopes to increase its seats and vote share to remain politically relevant. The JD(S) senses a great opportunity if the BJP cannot garner the numbers on its own. If the JD(S) extends support to save the Yediyurappa government, it can also shed its "anti-Lingayat" tag, feel party insiders.
Kumaraswamy is treading with caution. Recently, he hit back at Siddaramaiah when the latter alleged that the JD(S) was in a "secret pact" with the BJP.
"If the BJP is in power today, it is because of Siddaramaiah. During the assembly polls in May 2018, Siddaramaiah accused the JD(S) of being the B Team of the BJP to wrest the minority votes. He is again trying his old trick to confuse the Muslim voters. The BJP wants to label us as anti-Lingayat. But the people can see through this dirty game. My party will survive despite all this," said Kumaraswamy.
The mass rebellion helped BJP come to power and elevated former chief minister Siddaramaiah as the leader of the opposition from an inconsequential post of a coordination committee chairman. But the JD(S) lost power and is now facing the danger of political extinction.
By winning a handful of seats, the JD(S) can again play the kingmaker, as none of the parties is inclined to go for fresh polls. A second stint in power can help the party rein in dissidence, and also strengthen the party. Being in power will also betters their prospects of getting reelected as they would have better access to development funds. Both Kumaraswamy and Devegowda are aware that there are many JD(S) leaders like G.T. Devegowda who are eager to join the BJP.
When Devegowda says his party is seriously trying to win 5-6 seats and that both the Congress and BJP are safe, but not his party, he means every word of it.
