MATHIHALLI MADAN MOHAN writes from Hubli: There have been some strange sights on the political landscape of Karnataka over the last couple of months, but nothing is stranger than the spectacle that the BJP is trying to create over being done in so brutally by H.D. Deve Gowda and H.D. Kumaraswamy.
The wailing of the seven-day wonder, B.S. Yediyurappa, on live television; the rage and outrage of MLA C.T. Ravi; and the accumulated finger-pointing, chest-thumping and breast-beating by everybody, Rajnath Singh downwards, paints a not very wholesome picture of a national party comprising fully grown adults.
It is true that the JDS reneged on its promise of handing over power and, later, in backing Yediyurappa in the confidence vote moved by him on the floor of the House. But the BJP’s inclination to blame the JDS for the humiliation it has suffered, and to absolve itself of any role in bringing upon this ignominy, rings hollow.
The BJP’s handling of its ties with JDS has been very amateurish from the very beginning, to say the least. What prompted it to woo a party whose national president has been a known BJP baiter for decades is not very clear. By dealing with Kumaraswamy without keeping Deve Gowda in the loop may have been a safe strategy on paper, but in reality?
Who did the BJP think it was kidding by pretending it could deal independently of Gowda?
Politics is the art of the possible, but to commit the same mistake twice in a barely concealed quest for power requires a particular naviette, but none in the BJP seem to be willing to own upto it. Instead, by getting hysterical, the BJP is only underscoring what is plainly obvious to the people: that it, too, will do anything to sate its thirst for power.
Why the BJP has been so desperate has always been clear—because Yediyurappa wanted to realise his life’s ambition to somehow occupy the chief minister’s chair. Kumaraswamy’s charge that Yediyurappa demanded Rs 5 crore not too long ago to dump the BJP and join the JDS with his men underlines that desperation.
While ambition may be natural, and trust is important, the BJP has much to explain.
First, it parted with the Chief Ministership, which should have come to it legitimately by virtue of its numbers. Then, for months, the party which prides itself on its metal, bent backwards to keep the JDS pleased. It haplessly watched the loot of State power for the satisfaction of a family. And finally, when snubbed, instead of learning its lessons, it harboured fresh hopes.
How is one to feel sympathy for a party like this?
For a national party that likes to think it has the solution to every problem, the BJP totally misread the minds of both father and son, and more importantly overestimated its own political intelligence.
It thought Kumaraswamy was acting alone when he approached it. It mistook Deve Gowda’s show of anger, when Kumaraswamy “defied” him, as genuine. It thought it could do business with Kumaraswamy alone. It thought it could run circles around a former prime minister with 56 years in politics.
After befriending a foe, not once but twice, and burning its hands, not once but twice, BJP is now playing victim and crying hoarse that it has been let down. The BJP may be naive but not the people of the State.
(with PALINI R. SWAMY in Bangalore)
>>How is one to feel sympathy for a party like this?
Am Loving it…..
Deve Gowada is supreme stratagist to say the least. The way he made sure that no dessertion in JD(S) takes place and at the same time humiliating the BJP/RSS “Intellectual” leaders.
After the first few days of initial embarrassment, I can see how anti-BJP factions are slowly getting back to their job of smearing BJP for everything.
Agreed – There are no angels in Indian Politics. But, Deve Gowda and his family took it to the next new (low) level. I still don’t understand how Gowda could do what he did so publicly and got away with it. It tells a lot about our society too, doesn’t it?
3M is repeating the obvious! BJP perfectly knew that JD (s) was doing the ‘good cop’ ‘bad cop’ routine–but they had no choice!
The first mistake BJP made was in agreeing to JD (s) demand of CM! From that blunder they never recovered! IMHO for that blunder alone they must be severely punished. Then again, not too severely–I want only JD (s) to be decimated. It also shows how ‘low’ BJP were prepared to go to enjoy power. Voters will show who is the boss in the next elections.
Gowda thinks he can get away with all this! Just watch and see how it plays out. When I was in Bangalore last month I was shocked to see on TV how angry Gowda was with the journalists. He sounded more like the local ‘macchu’ ‘longu’ ‘meter’ ;biscutthu’ type ruffian. When I see the polished quotes attributed to him in the newspapers, Iam amazed because I always he was HMT (Hegal-Mel-Towel) type:)
Is this a Anti BJP blog ??
Sulla Kumaraswamy says yeddi demanded 5 crores…
hah ha after all these days of betrayal, lies, lies and lies, you still want to believe this sulla Kumaraswamy? never! (even if he speaks truth now, sadly no takers for his stories- he better stick to anithammas film making)