Date:13/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/13/stories/2006011306230400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Prospect of early elections irks legislators of all parties

T.S. Ranganna

Some of them want their leaders to explore ways of forming a new coalition

A few MLAs feel they have not been able to do justice to their constituencies
BJP group in favour of aligning with Janata Dal (S)
Some Congress legislators want their party to end ties with JD(S)

Janata Dal (S) MLAs unhappy at the delay in appointments to boards

BANGALORE: Members of the Legislative Assembly from all parties, with a few exceptions, fear that the coalition government is doomed and the Legislative Assembly will be dissolved. They feel that the government may fall before the legislature session which is scheduled to start on January 19.

Their apprehensions have heightened after the firm stand taken by the Congress High Command to allow district units to seek the support of any group, barring the Bharatiya Janata Party, to come to power in zilla and taluk panchayats where no party has a majority.

The Congress's district units have been told not to heed the request of the Janata Dal (Secular) to extend the coalition arrangement to zilla panchayats. To counter the Congress, Janata Dal (S) President H.D. Deve Gowda has convened a meeting of the party's national executive here on February 8 to decide whether to withdraw from the coalition. The MLAs' full term ends in April 2009 and they are wary of the prospect of early elections.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly B.S. Yediyurappa told presspersons after a meeting of the BJP's legislature party that the State unit favours midterm elections if the coalition collapses. The party MLAs have been told to begin their election campaign.

Speaking to The Hindu , some MLAs expressed concern over their political prospects if the Assembly is dissolved. They said they have not been able to do much for their constituencies as they had to assist their parties in the preparation for gram panchayat elections a few months ago and the zilla and taluk panchayat elections in December last year.

While BJP leaders are divided on whether the party should help the Janata Dal (S) to form government if the coalition breaks up, a party group is said to be ready to support it. According to them, this will ensure the continuation of the government and enable them to implement programmes in their constituencies.

Chief Minister's post

It is learnt that a few BJP MLAs feel that if the Central leadership gives its consent, the party could think of forming a coalition with the Janata Dal (S), provided the post of Chief Minister is given to one of their leaders. But this can be discussed only after the Janata Dal (S) takes a decision about the coalition, sources said.

A few Janata Dal (S) MLAs feel that they cannot go to their constituencies seeking votes as people are tired of frequent elections. They said the Government has not been able to take up development activities because of the delay in expanding the Ministry.

Appointments

No Janata Dal (S) legislator has been appointed chairmen of boards and corporations because of a lack of understanding among the top leaders of the coalition. According to a Minister from the Janata Dal (S), a majority of MLAs are against the party taking a decision which will necessitate elections in the near future.

They have requested party's Working President H.D. Kumaraswamy, MLA, to convince Mr. Deve Gowda about the need to align with the BJP.

A legislator expressed unhappiness over the ban on registration of sites (which was struck down by the High Court) and "failure to pressure" the Congress to distribute Ashraya sites and houses.

Although Congress MLAs are wary of approaching voters for a second time in two years, they are under pressure from a group of legislators who are keen on ending the tie-up with the Janata Dal (S).