Karnataka | The Coalition Is Shaky Again

Still three months away from completing a year in power, fresh cracks have appeared in the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress alliance in Karnataka. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy even threatened to resign on January 28, jeopardising the coalition’s seat-sharing talks for the Lok Sabha election.The crisis is unlikely to blow over anytime soon, with the JD(S) camp maintaining that the Congress leadership is not keen to intervene even after JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda’s appeal to rein in dissenting Congress MLAs who have been at the CM’s throat.There’s too much at stake for the coalition, cautions Bengaluru-based political analyst A. Veerappa. Congress MLAs, especially former CM Siddaramaiah’s supporters, are targeting Kumaraswamy relentlessly. This is an open invitation for the BJP to destabilise the government.Differences between the allies deepened after the Congress appointed party functionaries as chairpersons of various government bodies and corporations. The JD(S) alleged it had not been consulted. The Congress also faced rebellion over the choice of appointees for the cabinet reshuffle in December last year. Eight party MLAs threatened to quit. Four of them did not turn up for the Congress Legislature Party meeting, leading to speculation that Siddaramaiah was not keen on saving the government. Again, it was Congress troubleshooter D.K. Shivakumar, a minister in the government, who salvaged the situation..preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}But just as it appeared that the coalition was back on track, some Congress leaders declared that they still considered Siddaramaiah their chief minister. An upset Kumaraswamy threatened to resign. It was they (Congress) who came to us we did not go after power. I am willing to step down if my style of functioning is not acceptable to them, he said in Bengaluru.While Kumaraswamy and his deputy G. Parameshwara (of the Congress) share a good rapport, the Siddaramaiah camp has been feeling alienated. The coalition government’s decision to discontinue some of Siddaramaiah’s populist schemes further infuriated the former CM’s supporters.Ironically, Siddaramaiah heads the coalition’s coordination committee. He is working against the interests of the coalition by letting his supporters make negative comments about the chief minister. He does not want this coalition to survive, alleges JD(S) spokesperson Lakkappa Gowda.The bickering has left a section of the state Congress worried. We are yet to finalise the seat-sharing. Winnability is the only criteria in the process. But the final decision will rest with the Congress high command and JD(S) leadership, says Dinesh Gundu Rao, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president.The BJP, meanwhile, has forecast the end of the coalition. The administration has collapsed. This government is counting its days as the rift between the two allies widens, said Union minister and BJP leader D.V. Sadananda Gowda in Bengaluru on February 4.Published By: Nishtha GuptaPublished On: Feb 8, 2019--- ENDS ---

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Karnataka | The Coalition Is Shaky Again

Tension erupts as Siddaramaiah supporters assail HD Kumaraswamy.

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