The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : New coalition bound to collapse before long: Hariprasad

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 02, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

New coalition bound to collapse before long: Hariprasad

Staff Reporter

`Group persuaded JD(S) to end the tie-up with Congress' `It is a pity the date for nomination for the Oscars is over, otherwise Deve Gowda could have won these hands down'

B.K. Hariprasad — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE: All India Congress Committee General Secretary B.K. Hariprasad on Wednesday described the coalition of the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party as "an unholy alliance" and said Friday, when H.D. Kumaraswamy and B.S. Yediyurappa are to be sworn in as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, respectively, will be a "Black Day".

`Betrayal'

Speaking at the meet-the-press programme at the Press Club of Bangalore, Mr. Hariprasad said the "betrayal" of the Congress by the Janata Dal (S) could only have been facilitated by the covert machinations of a small group of members of both parties. The BJP began its "conspiracy" to topple the Congress-Janata Dal (S) Government within six months of N. Dharam Singh assuming office as Chief Minister, he added.

"However, I am sure this alliance too will not last long, as there is very little in common between the two partners, apart from their eagerness to wield power," Mr. Hariprasad said.

He said former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should join the Congress. This will help the Congress and Mr. Siddaramaiah. He has apprised the Congress High Command of the matter, and the response has been "very positive", he added.

Having been caught unawares by the sudden reversal in Karnataka, the Congress will now accept that it has to function as an Opposition party, Mr. Hariprasad said. There will no bickering or ill will among "contenders" for the post of leader of the party in the Legislative Assembly. All Congressmen are disciplined and responsible people who know where to draw the line, he said.

Role model

Ridiculing Mr. Kumaraswamy's claim that former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee is his model, and his statement that he is "yet to understand the meaning of secularism", Mr. Hariprasad asked: "How can anyone claim that during Mr. Vajpayee's tenure there was no communal violence and forget the terrible consequences of the Godhra incidents?"

Describing the political developments that began on January 18 as a drama enacted by Janata Dal (S) President H.D. Deve Gowda, he remarked: "It is a pity the date for nomination for the Oscars under the best script and director category is over, otherwise he could have won these hands down," Mr. Hariprasad said.

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