Many anticipated a change in leadership in Karnataka with the end of the budget session of the State Legislature. Two weeks down the line, no change seems to be on the cards. The central leadership of the BJP is clutching at every available straw to buy more time. The range of legal hassles that the former chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yedyurappa, faces continues to loom large. The refusal by the Lokayukta court to close the cases pertaining to the former Chief MInister and his followers has further queered the pitch. The former Chief Minister is due to appear before the Lokayukta court later this month. This allows the central leadership to further delay any decision on leadership change in the state. An extended period of political flux is thus, inevitable.
The internal bickering within the BJP continues unabated. The drought situation in the state came as a handy tool to further escalate differences. The much publicized tour of drought effected areas by the former Chief MInister drew considerable attention, more in terms of `reading between the lines` of his many comments and responses to statements of other leaders. His veiled criticism of his successor and subsequent endorsement of action taken by the government were clearly a response to emerging political developments. The visit to the State by the representative of the central BJP leadership, did little to settle matters and was seen more as a move to negotiate between different factions and counsel patience. Party workers remain unclear of the direction the leadership tussle is likely to take.
The Chief Minister’s decision not to go on a foreign tour in the light of the drought situation was a clear response to wide spread criticism both in the opposition and within his party to the proposed travel abroad. The climate of political uncertainty and the clear factionalism within the ruling party has clearly impacted on the enthusiasm of the government to deal with the drought situation with greater energy and a clearer focus.
The principal opposition party, the Congress made a desperate attempt to get its act together and cash in on the Udupi-Chikamagalur by-poll victory by organizing a rally on the outskirts of Bengaluru city. The theme of the rally was `Come to the Congress and bring change` which was a clear endorsement of the fact that people had moved away from the party.
Unity within the party leadership at the state level was still a chimera. While, hectic negotiations to bring together the state level leaders were initiated by the Congress High Command before this rally, leaders did not give up on the opportunity to score political brownie points in their speeches and in the process sent contradictory messages. Unity within the party still seems to be a distant dream. With state elections a year away, both the ruling party and the principal opposition seem quite unprepared to seize the emerging political opportunity.
(The writer is a political analyst and currently Pro Vice-Chancellor of Jain University)