Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Dec 20: Of late, there have been indications of JD(S) growing cosy with the BJP, whose ideals are different than that of JD(S). The signs are apparent - during the land reform amendment, JD(S) stood in favour of the ruling BJP government, and the verbal tussle between Congress leader Siddaramaiah and JD(S) chief Kumaraswamy has made this all the more clear.
Ohter leaders of JD(S) have also given indications of the JD(S)-BJP bond becoming much stronger in future. However, this has created unhappiness among some MLAs of the party, and has created confusion among the JD(S) MLAs. Rumours are rife that the members are disappointed with the stand of their party leaders.
Gubbi MLA S R Srinivas has given a public statement in this regard saying that the leaders of the party should not speak in different tongues inside and outside the party.
"During the last elections the inside agreement between JD(S) and BJP is a fact. I am committed to what I am saying. Our leaders have said that they will not allow the BJP government to collapse. So the BJP government will not fall for next two-and-a-half years, there will be no interim election. But I will not support BJP," he said.
In addition to the statement of Srinivas, it is also said that more leaders of the party are not happy with the stand taken by the top brasses. JD(S), which is called as a farmers' party has supported the land reform amendment act. In the matter of cow slaughter also it has followed a confusing path. On the other hand, it has stood with BJP in the legislative council chairman change. So the party is opposing some policies of the government while supporting others. This has created confusion among the party cadres and MLAs.
Moreover, Kumaraswamy on Sunday made it clear that his party may extend issue-based support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the coming days in public interest.
However, the JD(S) leader said that his party is a party of Kannadigas with self-esteem and it "will never think of political merger."
"The Janata Dal (S), which is a party of Kannadigas with self-esteem, will never think of political merger. The party, which is a strong voice of the people, will never display such stupidity. At the most, we may extend issue-based support to the BJP if need be in the coming days in public interest. There is no importance for any imaginary reports on a political merger," Kumaraswamy tweeted.
In the midst of all these developments, sources say that Congress leader C M Ibrahim in on the verge of joining JD(S). It is also important as to what is Ibrahim's stand on the dual policy of JD(S). Ibrahim, who had ideally opposed BJP, is not giving any clear-cut statement on the alliance of JD(S) with BJP. His recent statement supporting cow slaughter ban in the state has certainly raised eyebrows as it opposes his party's official stand.
On the whole, there's seems to be plenty of confusion within the JD(S). Only time will tell what turn they events may take.