Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 2: The leaders of the coalition government were happy with the knowledge that they had sealed the safety of the government by putting to use the masterstroke of inducting two independent legislators as ministers. It seems that they are now realizing their mistake of overlooking strong signals emanating from rebel leaders. Leaders including Siddaramaiah had said that disgruntled MLAs would be pacified and that Ramesh Jarkiholi, who is a staunch Congressman, would never leave the party.

The dissident MLAs also acted like lying low but it seems they were hatching a plan clandestinely. When the Congress and the JD(S) were decimated in the Lok Sabha election, the leaders felt that inducting two independents into the ministry would be the best possible solution to the dissidence. They did not undertake the exercise of reorganization of the ministry as they feared it would open Pandora's box.

Congress leaders - File photo

The dissidents, feeling overlooked and neglected, were awaiting for a suitable opportunity to hit back. Anand Singh fired the first salvo by resigning from his post.

In the recent past, Congress and JD(S) leaders have passed adverse comments against each other. They have charged each other of robbing the chances of winning more Lok Sabha seats. At present, only water resources minister, D K Shivakumar, deputy chief minister , Dr G Parameshwara, and the national leadership of the Congress seem to be keen on the survival of the coalition government. Many in the government have echoed the opinion that longer the coalition arrangement continues, more damage would be suffered by parties. In a recent meeting of leaders held recently by both the parties, this opinion had emerged.

At a time when chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, is away on a visit to USA, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, has undertaken Europe tour. It is said that he is confident that Anand Singh will withdraw his resignation and Jarkiholi would be the only Congressman to resign his assembly membership.