India
Bjp: Lok Sabha polls in mind: Congress, BJP wary of alliance with JD(S) in Karnataka | India News
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BENGALURU: While a fractured mandate is being widely predicted in Karnataka’s assembly elections, the two national parties — BJP and Congress — appear to be wary of forming a coalition government with JD(S) as they believe it could hurt their prospects in the Lok Sabha elections due next year.
Even while seniors stayed closeted on Friday, the eve of counting, drawing up strategies, leaderships of both national parties say they prefer to sit in the opposition if they fall short of a majority.
The priority though would be to try and form a government on their own with the help of independents, if any, and a handful of defectors from rival parties. BJP is also said to be toying with the option of forming a government with outside support of JD(S).
“First of all, we are confident of getting a majority so there would be no need for an alliance,” said Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, member of the BJP’s election management committee. “We expect some like-minded MLAs, including independents, to join our fold. If the gap is big andJD(S) has enough numbers to fill it, then we may ask them to support us from outside. But the priority is to sit in the opposition, as we feel there is no point in forming a government that is unstable.”
A large section of BJP functionaries is against the idea of using Operation Lotus to poach MLAs from rival parties as it would intensify the tussle between party loyalists and defectors. BJP had inducted 17 MLAs from Congress and JD(S) in 2019 to muster the required number to form the government after the fall of the JD(S)-Congress coalition.
Of the 17 defectors, 13 were given cabinet berths, a move that did not go down well with loyalists, who believed outsiders were grabbing opportunities which they should have enjoyed. It is believed to be one of the reasons for the dissidence during BS Yediyurappa’s regime and the exodus of loyal functionaries to Congress ahead of assembly elections. BJP functionaries said the party brass wants to avoid this situation.
“If we get outside support from JD(S), we can accommodate more BJP loyalists in the cabinet [total 33 members]. Itall depends on the emerging situation and the high command will take a call,” said Narayanaswamy.
The BJP leadership also believes that an alliance with JD(S) will weaken its position in the state ahead of Lok Sabha polls. In 2019, Congress had aligned with JD(S) and was routed. While BJP won 25 of the total 28 MP seats, Congress’ tally fell from nine in2014 to one. JD(S) too settled for a single seat.
Senior Congress functionaries also said they would prefer to sit in the opposition rather than join hands with JD(S). “We will form a government on our own, as we are sure of getting more than 120 seats,” said senior Congress functionary BK Hariprasad, leader of the opposition in the legislative council. “If we do fall short of a majority, which is unlikely, then we will sit in opposition.”
Constitutional obligation
JD(S) is keenly observing moves of BJP and JD(S). KA Thippeswamy, convener of the regional party’s manifesto committee, said the single largest party must come forward to form the government.
“Otherwise, it amounts to escaping from a constitutional obligation,” he said. “It would be an injustice to the people if these national parties shied away from forming the government. We are open to an alliance on mutual terms. ”
On the option of BJP seeking outside support, Thippeswamy said JD(S) wants to participate in the government since its priority is to implement its manifesto promises.
Even while seniors stayed closeted on Friday, the eve of counting, drawing up strategies, leaderships of both national parties say they prefer to sit in the opposition if they fall short of a majority.
The priority though would be to try and form a government on their own with the help of independents, if any, and a handful of defectors from rival parties. BJP is also said to be toying with the option of forming a government with outside support of JD(S).
“First of all, we are confident of getting a majority so there would be no need for an alliance,” said Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, member of the BJP’s election management committee. “We expect some like-minded MLAs, including independents, to join our fold. If the gap is big andJD(S) has enough numbers to fill it, then we may ask them to support us from outside. But the priority is to sit in the opposition, as we feel there is no point in forming a government that is unstable.”
A large section of BJP functionaries is against the idea of using Operation Lotus to poach MLAs from rival parties as it would intensify the tussle between party loyalists and defectors. BJP had inducted 17 MLAs from Congress and JD(S) in 2019 to muster the required number to form the government after the fall of the JD(S)-Congress coalition.
Of the 17 defectors, 13 were given cabinet berths, a move that did not go down well with loyalists, who believed outsiders were grabbing opportunities which they should have enjoyed. It is believed to be one of the reasons for the dissidence during BS Yediyurappa’s regime and the exodus of loyal functionaries to Congress ahead of assembly elections. BJP functionaries said the party brass wants to avoid this situation.
“If we get outside support from JD(S), we can accommodate more BJP loyalists in the cabinet [total 33 members]. Itall depends on the emerging situation and the high command will take a call,” said Narayanaswamy.
The BJP leadership also believes that an alliance with JD(S) will weaken its position in the state ahead of Lok Sabha polls. In 2019, Congress had aligned with JD(S) and was routed. While BJP won 25 of the total 28 MP seats, Congress’ tally fell from nine in2014 to one. JD(S) too settled for a single seat.
Senior Congress functionaries also said they would prefer to sit in the opposition rather than join hands with JD(S). “We will form a government on our own, as we are sure of getting more than 120 seats,” said senior Congress functionary BK Hariprasad, leader of the opposition in the legislative council. “If we do fall short of a majority, which is unlikely, then we will sit in opposition.”
Constitutional obligation
JD(S) is keenly observing moves of BJP and JD(S). KA Thippeswamy, convener of the regional party’s manifesto committee, said the single largest party must come forward to form the government.
“Otherwise, it amounts to escaping from a constitutional obligation,” he said. “It would be an injustice to the people if these national parties shied away from forming the government. We are open to an alliance on mutual terms. ”
On the option of BJP seeking outside support, Thippeswamy said JD(S) wants to participate in the government since its priority is to implement its manifesto promises.
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