The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Many JD(S) MLAs feel relieved

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Sunday, Oct 28, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Many JD(S) MLAs feel relieved

Special Correspondent

Most of them are not in favour of mid-term elections being held

Many MLAs feel that they will face the wrath of the public if polls are held
Most people were stunned by the sudden developments on Saturday

Bangalore: The occasion was bereft of the jubilation and enthusiasm among Janata Dal (Secular) leaders, particularly MLAs and their supporters, witnessed in January 2006 when the party broke with the Congress to form a coalition government with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

A large number of vehicles lined the two sides of the road passing through the posh Sadashivanagar Extension, obstructing traffic in the afternoon. Curious onlookers and supporters of the party gathered in near the guesthouse where the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy conducts political deliberations.

Stunned by the unexpected turn of events over the past week, the people gathered there were not ready to reconcile to the idea of the JD(S) again falling into the lap of the BJP. It was a fait accompli, one onlooker said.

However, party MLAs, who had feared that they would be reduced to nothing if the Legislative Assembly was dissolved, heaved a sigh of relief when Mr. Kumaraswamy asked them to support the BJP, as many of them were not ready to sit beside the Congress members in the Assembly.

Another fear was the public anger, particularly from the Lingayat community, that they witnessed when they visited their constituencies. Added to this, they were afraid of the repercussions of statements made by some of the Lingayat math seers such as Shivakumara Swamiji and Prasanna Renuka Swamiji if elections were held.

Some of the Muslim leaders of the party, who had opposed the transfer of power to the BJP, also changed their tune.

The former Minister Iqbal Ansari, who was against handing over the baton to the former Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, stuck to his stand. However, he had to abide by the decision taken by his leader, he said.

Another former Minister, Zameer Ahmed, who resigned from the Ministry protesting against Mr. Kumaraswamy not attending Id prayers, said the same position that prevailed in January 2006 when the party aligned with the BJP would continue.

Abdul Azeem, MLC and a former assistant commissioner of police echoed the explanation given by party seniors. ‘We have to survive first from the onslaught of the Congress for which we have to align with the BJP, however inconvenient it is,” he said.

Decision opposed

But there were some MLAs like Vishwanath Patil Hebbal, representing Chitapur constituency in Gulbarga district, who openly opposed the decision taken by party leaders at the meeting. Mr. Hebbal said that it was not right to support the BJP, which he termed a communal party. But he was not heard in the din.

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