Karnataka Elections: Pandora Box remains unopened

In politics it is necessary either to betray one's country or the electorate. I prefer to

betray the electorate.

- Charles de Gaulle

I take the honour to quote the great French statesman, who took up against the Nazis, the

terrific demons of time. The very saying apparently sets perfectly in the current scenario

of our nation. Where I assume, Politicians have taken a stand for or against as they flourish

divided in two. Earth has finished almost five gyrations since results of Legislative

Assembly elections arrived, and the political climate of Karnataka just settled, though only

for few days as I perceive. There have been five nights but I’m sure sleep was away from

many eyes. Briefly speaking people utterly rejected the Siddaramaiah’s government and

Rahul lead Indian National Congress. The figures speak best for it. Siddaramaiah won

from Badami by 1,693 votes while lost from Chamundeshwari by 36,042 votes. Congress

could manage only 78 seats against the 122 of 2013. Plainly speaking if BJP, the single

party won 47% votes, Congress could manage only 36% and JD (S) stood to a low of

18%. Another interesting fact is that JD(S) lost deposit for 116 seats out of 222 seats.

Now Mr Kumaraswamy is all set to be the CM of the state although his party is the least

popular of all.

As per the rule of the land undoubtedly the single largest party was to be invited to form

the government and rightly so, Governor did the same. But somehow the devious

maligned ploy by the Indian National Congress appalled the mandate. Congress declared

of getting into an unconditional alliance with Janta Dal (Secular) and accepting

Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister at around sixteenth hour of the day. It’s interesting to

note that till before that alliance was declared, both parties had been blaming each other

of non-secular nature. Congress President Mr Rahul Gandhi even went on to evoke JD

(S) as Janta Dal (Sangh) and as ‘B’ team of BJP. JD(S) in response didn’t shy off from

calling Congress as the most communal political party ever. But by 04:00 PM on the May

15, 2018 suddenly BJP became most communal instead of Congress.

Ironically if an understanding of public is taken, many JD(S) seats came into functioning

only by defeating Congress in respective seats. Technically, if the alliance amid Congress

and JD(S) is considered it is indeed identical to an alliance amid political foes. Probably

this alliance somehow induces a betrayal to the public. By the virtue of constitutional

possibility, Congress again shares power with other losing party though being shown a

backseat by public. Off late Congress has touched the steep curve towards decline both

in terms of presence and moral grounds. And I must admit that the Karnataka election has

left them deeply exposed. Abhishek Manu Sanghvi and Kapil Sibbal, the two key lawyer-

politicians of Indian National Congress knocked the doors of the CJI the fortnight of

Swearing in of Mr Yeddyurappa. Interestingly both are the same people who inked the

charge-sheet seeking an impeachment of the CJI just two weeks back. The CJI didn’t shy

off to formulate a bench of three judges to hear the plea at 01:45 am on an urgent basis.

The bench agreed to review the documents and gave a verdict in the petitioner’s favour

as it cut short the waiting period of floor test for BJP from 15 days to 24 hours. The INC

and its supporters showered twitter with praises for the honourable court, the same court

which was a tainted one according to them a couple of weeks back. Congress must get it

clear that they are not the dictators that we will realise an institution to be right or wrong

based on their comfort with them. There is another very interesting fact to note. Adv.

Sanghvi had framed one more letter before the election results had landed in. The letter

dealt with request to invite Congress to form a government instead of an alliance amid

JD(S) and BJP as they are the single largest party, which I’m sure if the case would have

gone as projected by few exit polls.

Few may have an opinion that the very alliance suffices certain ideology which seems

beneficial to the idea of India. Paradoxically the ideology of ‘Secularism’ that they seem

to be supporting doesn’t find a place in we young Indian minds. If they accuse BJP of

decolouring the secular fabric of India, then I do ask them following:

1. Why was Rahul Gandhi doing numerous temple runs during Gujarat Elections?

2. Why were Congress workers sporting saffron shawls while campaigning in North

Karnataka?

3. What was the need of wearing a Janeu that too over a coat?

4. Why the Lingayat was declared a minority? Wasn’t it a ploy to break Hindu votes?

5. Why Shah-Bano case dealt in the way it was dealt?

6. Why the gates of the Ayodhya temple opened?

There are many more but it’s better not to deviate from the core agenda. We must

understand that looking at the might of Narendra Modi, all political parties have are keen

to come together even if it’s needed to crush people’s mandate. Had the development and

welfare been an agenda JD(S) would have come to support BJP and not the Congress. I

as a Bangalorean know the goof ups of Ex-CM very well. The never ending fractured road-

networks and the large amount of potholes exposes the ex-government’s priority very well.

Every professional easily ends up spending 200% more time on travel than ideally it

should have needed. The previous government completely messed up with project

management for Metro development. The drastic increase in number of farmer’s suicide,

lack of drinking water facilities have been some key reasons for the great incumbency

wherein almost whole cabinet of Mr Siddaramaiah lost the elections. It’s indeed important

to understand that the public don’t vote solely on ideology so the very mask to divide the

whole political fraternity into shall be biggest blunder one could do.

Now the question arises, that how sustainable shall the very alliance be considering that

the votes were not given based on so called ‘two-ideology’ theory? Interestingly the way
MLAs of Congress and JD(S) were transported post declaration of alliance, only raises

the question over their sanity. It gives a clear hint that the both political parties accept the

fact that there could be multiple reasons that may dislodge their folks and they may end

up shaking hands with BJP. The way Mr Yeddyurappa resigned post large drama, has

only kept Pandora Box unopened. It has become tough to challenge BJP on grounds of

horse-trading, considering there has been no validation of even the audio-tapes which

were released claiming the corrupt scenario. I wish to ask INC and JD(S) that why no

complained has been filed regarding the mater of audio tapes? Is it so because it may end

up in getting them found as culprit? As there has been no floor-test so who stands by side

of whom remains an ambiguity. I believe that this has been a masterstroke by BJP. As

expected there are many leaders who must be unhappy on both sides (INC and JD(s)) for

they would have fought elections whole heartedly against each other. Especially when

Congress seems to be a sinking ship with Mr Rahul Gandhi as the captain many MLAs

must be seeing this alliance as a path towards blemished political career ahead.

Currently the two parties have clearly stated they are sharing food in same plate only

because they want to defeat a particular ideology. But as stated earlier, public is smart

enough to understand none of the two are qualifier for warring against the ideology that

they propagate BJP to be representing. The Karnataka election has shown that when

development should have been agenda for embracing power a political party has shook

hands with the one against whom whole state voted. Though the likes of Mamta Didi may

think that the rhetoric of ‘BJP as non-secular’ shall win them votes, and then it’s definitely

a mistake. Because we all saw that what happened in Bengal three days back. Now the

citizens of India shall turn even more hell bent to defeat the third front. Everyone except

BJP started this war of ‘Modi vs All’ but we the people shall end it in 2019. The parties of

third front would soon start losing votes only because they have held hands of those who

have looted our nation the most.