K’taka result today; BJP, Cong send feelers to JD(S)

BENGALURU: Even as analysts trot out multiple scenarios that could unfold on Tuesday, when the votes are counted in the Karnataka assembly elections, the two main political parties in the fray, the Congress and the BJP, have reached out to the Janata Dal (Secular) to discuss a possible alliance, say people familiar with the matter.

Neither is a stranger to the JD(S), headed by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda: the Congress and the JD(S) formed a government together in 2004; and the JD(S) and the BJP did the same in 2006. Currently, the Congress and the JD(S) are partners in the Bengaluru City Corporation, while the JD(S) and the BJP are partners in the Mysuru City Corporation.

A senior JD(S) leader said on condition of anonymity that talks have started, but have still not gathered momentum because “both national parties are confident of a majority on their own” and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy left for Singapore on Sun-

day. Representatives of the BJP and the Congress were not willing to comment on the matter on record.

There are problems in allying with either party, two other JD(S) leaders, also speaking on condition of anonymity, added. For instance, if the Congress insists that Siddaramaiah has to be the chief minister, the JD(S) will find it difficult to ally with the party because he is Kumaraswamy’s bete noire.

Many see chief minister Siddaramaiah’s Sunday statement saying he would support the Congress party’s decision if chooses to name a Dalit as the chief minister as the extension of an olive branch to the JD (S).

The recent decision of the Congress to poach seven JD (S) MLAs ahead of the recent Rajya Sabha polls has only added to the anger against the party in the JD(S). However, one Congress leader pointed to the informal alliance between the two parties in the two by-polls in 2017 as evidence that there was a possibility of a coalition. In the Nanjangud by-polls last year, the Congress candidate was a rebel from the JD(S) who won against V Srinivasa Prasad, the Congress leader who moved to the BJP.

In fact, chief minister Siddaramaiah had publicly thanked the JD(S) after the Congress won both seats.

There are issues concerning a partnership with the BJP as well. Deve Gowda said in a recent interview that he would disown his son (Kumaraswamy) if he were to join hands with the BJP. The party’s decision to align with the Bahujan Samaj Party, too, is seen as a hurdle for a coalition with the BJP. The first JD(S) leader said Mayawati had made it clear that she would not accept any alliance with the BJP. “It is not just Mayawati who made us vow that we would not join forces with the BJP, but even K Chandrashekhar Rao of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and Asaduddin Owaisi ( of the All India Majlis-eIttehadul Muslimeen ) are against any such talks. Since they have campaigned for us, it is difficult to now dump the alliances with these parties,” this person added. Both Congress president Rahul Gandhi and PM Narendra Modi have attacked the JD(S) and its leader and former prime minister, HD Deve Gowda. While Gandhi said the ‘S’ in the party’s name stood for Sangh Parivar, Modi has repeatedly claimed that the party will not be able to defeat the Congress as it is limited to a few seats.

BJP leaders said there was no question of talks with the JD(S) at this point. “We are confident of getting a clear and comfortable majority,” a senior BJP leader said, on the condition of anonymity. “If we do not get a majority we will take a call only after the polls,” he said. “In fact, while everybody is busy projecting the differences between Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy, it is fairly clear that Deve Gowda and Siddaramaiah continue to be close. Also, Deve Gowda is aiming for a role in 2019, so he will not willingly join us in a coalition,” the leader said.

Political analyst Narendar Pani said it was doubtful if parties would discuss any possible alliance at this time. “With Kumaraswamy having gone to Singapore, there doesn’t seem much scope for discussions at this stage. Anyway, the JD(S) will play hard to get if there is a hung assembly and will try and extract as much as possible with the prospective alliance partner,” he said.

Proper talks concerning a possible alliance will begin soon after the results are out, the first JD(S) leader said. That way, we will know “our strength or the two parties’ weaknesses”.

DEVE GOWDA SAID IN A RECENT INTERVIEW THAT HE WOULD DISOWN HIS SON (KUMARASWAMY) IF HE WERE TO JOIN HANDS WITH THE BJP.