Karnataka - Bangalore

Congress camp feels betrayed

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister Dharam Singh meets Ministers and other party leaders

Bangalore: A feeling of betrayal enveloped the Congress camp on Wednesday evening as it expected the worst for the Government led by it: withdrawal of support by the Janata Dal (Secular).

Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh was closeted with some Ministers, legislators and party leaders at his official residence before leaving for a meeting of the Cabinet held at his home office, "Krishna", which is next door.

According to sources, the Congress leaders were not prepared to buy the claim that Working President of the State unit of the Janata Dal (S) H.D. Kumaraswamy rebelled against his father and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda in deciding on breaking the coalition.

Faith in Deve Gowda

The party leaders and ministers are reported to have said they all along reposed faith in the words of Mr. Deve Gowda that the Government would not be disturbed as his party had aligned itself with the Congress to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party at bay.

Moreover, the agreement on forming the coalition was reached by Congress President Sonia Gandhi with Mr. Deve Gowda.

They had believed that the coalition would continue as it enabled the two parties to come to power, though none of them commanded a majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly.

Cordial relations

It is noted Mr. Dharam Singh had scrupulously desisted from attacking Mr. Deve Gowda at any time and maintained cordial relations with him.

Even this morning, he is stated to have telephoned Mr. Deve Gowda. The coalition had survived because of the leadership given by Mr. Dharam Singh.

It was only Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President M. Mallikarjun Kharge and more so former KPCC President B. Janardhan Poojary when he held office, who were engaged in a war of words with the Janata Dal (S).

Mr. Dharam Singh overstretched himself in repeatedly buying peace with the JD(S) leadership.

He had not been provoked even when Mr. Deve Gowda levelled allegations against Governor of Maharashtra S.M. Krishna with regard to his actions and decisions as chief minister.

Mr. Singh was also at the receiving end of criticism from his party colleagues as allowing himself to be dictated by Mr. Deve Gowda.

AHINDA factor

However, a strong feeling has grown in Congress circles that the party has paid dearly with the Government by supporting the AHINDA (federation of backward classes, minorities and Dalits) formed by the supporters of former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

It is losing the government in return for winning two or three zilla panchayats with the help of the All-India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD), the party floated or revived by Mr. Siddaramaiah.

It is a case of winning the sweeps only to lose in the roundabouts. The Congress has alienated the politically dominant castes, such as Lingyats and Vokkaligas, to endear itself to the backward classes and Scheduled Castes.

It was the support to the AHINDA and alliance with the AIPJD in the zilla and taluk panchayat elections which led to the volte face by the JD(S).

It is also being stated that the Congress had underestimated the BJP's strength in creating mischief and trouble for it.

It had not expected the BJP to go along with the Janata Dal (S) and accept Mr. Kumaraswamy as the leader of a possible alternative coalition. It failed to read the meaning of the willingness expressed by Leader of the Opposition B.S. Yediyurappa, a few months ago, to align with the Janata Dal (S) to form a government.

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