The BJP adopted a wait and watch attitude with regard to political developments in Karnataka, maintaining that it was not trying to topple the Kumaraswamy government in the State, while still sequestering party MLAs at a hotel in Manesar in Haryana. State unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa in fact left for Bengaluru as news of the deteriorating health of Shivakumara Swami, the centenarian Lingayat seer of the Siddaganga Mutt broke.
BJP general secretary in charge of Karnataka, P. Muralidhar Rao told The Hindu that the party had sequestered its MLAs due to chief minister Kumaraswamy’s own on-record claims that he was in touch with BJP MLAs, and that the party needed to safeguard its own numbers.
“All that is happening is that the Congress has its own internal issues of disgruntled elements, and whoever has expressed any disgruntlement is promptly labelled pro-BJP by the opposing factions in that party,” said Mr. Rao. He added that the political developments in Karnataka “in fact exposed the way such unprincipled coalitions existed.”
“In any case, the political developments are exposing the fragility of the coalition, and people are watching everything,” he said.
Mr. Rao’s statements have been careful about maintaining a distance from any attempts to get in touch with Congress MLAs in the State, possibly because the success of the venture has major odds stacked against it. The BJP requires at least 13 Congress MLAs to absent themselves from voting on any no-confidence motion they may bring in the Assembly.
‘Risky venture’
BJP insiders say that the party has not been able to “trust” the disgruntled Congress MLAs who are basically bargaining for money and position and may go back on their word if the Congress leadership manages to give a better deal.
“Any fishing expedition in the faction-ridden Congress in the State is a risky venture as top leaders in Delhi are determined that the alliance government has to last till the Lok Sabha polls, and may force leaders like Siddharamaiah and D.K. Shivakumar to rein in supporters and detractors till then,” said a source.
The one thing giving confidence to the BJP is that the Central leadership of the party is not as averse to the exercise as earlier. “Today’s developments however are not very encouraging,” party sources admitted.