The Hindu : Rebels embarrass BJP in Karnataka

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 29, 2002

National

National

Rebels embarrass BJP in Karnataka

By S.K. Ramoo

BANGALORE MARCH 28. The pattern of voting in the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly has come as a "shocking surprise", as the Independent candidate and noted industrialist, Vijay Mallya, supported by the two factions of the Janata Dal, won in the first round, securing more votes than the two Congress candidates.

The AICC member and Congress candidate, Janardhana Poojary, secured the highest number of votes (50), followed by Mr. Mallya (46). Prema Cariappa, a former Congress Mayor of Bangalore, and M.V. Rajashekaran, Congress MLC, obtained 45 and 44 votes respectively. The BJP nominee, D.K. Taradevi Siddhartha, who suffered a humiliating defeat, was able to muster only 34 votes.

The leaders of the Congress, the BJP, and the two Janata Dal factions should be concerned over the menace of cross-voting among their MLAs, who defied their party whips. Mr. Mallya, who lacked the support of the required number of MLAs to win in the first round, was able to win comfortably on account of cross-voting by some Congress and BJP MLAs. Indeed, the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna's reaction, that the "arithmetic cannot lie", hit the nail on the head.

Surprisingly, the BJP leadership acted swiftly to order the expulsion of six MLAs hours after the outcome of the election was known. This brings the total number of MLAs expelled recently to eight. The speedy action by the BJP leadership is an indication that it is resolved to stem the rot of dissidence within its legislature party.

The rebel MLAs handed out a crushing defeat to Ms. Siddhartha, notwithstanding the serious endeavour made to arrest the cross-voting tendency. .

In the end, it was proved that there was truth in the allegation that both the factions of the Janata Dal and the Congress "conspired" to defeat the BJP candidate. This appears to be the beginning of an ailment affecting the BJP Legislature Party. It has to be seen how far the beleaguered party leadership will be effective in containing the revolt.

About a dozen MLAs recently revolted against the style of functioning of some senior leaders and their hegemonic hold on the party. This led to personal animosities.

Interestingly, the BJP leaders have blamed both the Congress and the Janata Dal factions for causing a split in the legislature party. The political gambit of Mr. Mallya has paid off, as he took full advantage of the rebellion.

The leadership of the State unit of the Congress, which devised a strategy primarily aimed at getting its three nominees to the winning post, dealt a severe blow to the BJP by ensuring the defeat of its candidate, which, in turn, led to the success of Mr. Mallya.

Mr. Krishna had acknowledged that his party's overall strategy was to defeat the BJP candidate.

Interestingly, the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, let the cat out of the bag by disclosing that Mr. Mallya's candidature was approved by Ramakrishna Hegde, and that he had sought the support of both the Janata Dal factions. Mr. Mallya was defeated in the last Rajya Sabha election about two years ago, despite the support extended by Mr. Hegde. This time he was lucky.

Mr. Mallya's victory is a triumph of the political designs of the Janata Dal factions and the Congress, which were keen to spite the BJP.

The upbeat mood in both the Dal factions, following the spectacular triumph of Mr. Deve Gowda in the byelection to the Lok Sabha, has been further bolstered with the success of Mr. Mallya.

The writing on the wall is that the reunification of the Dal factions is now a mere formality. It is likely to materialise sooner than expected.

The poll outcome has dealt a severe blow to the image of the BJP leadership, which is facing the formidable task of keeping its flock together.

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