Governance has Taken a Backseat in Ugly Politics of State
by Florine Roche
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Nov 21: When the BJP had assumed power in Karnataka two and half years ago there was euphoria all around. It was said to be a big breakthrough for the BJP to find a base in the southern parts of the country where it has negligible presence except in Karnataka. The people of Karnataka also heaved a sigh of relief thinking it would usher in good governance, development and corruption-free government under the BJP. Tired of the harrowing experience of two bad coalition experiments, people of Karnataka were eagerly looking forward to a stable government. When the BJP emerged as the single largest party and formed the government, thanks to ‘Operation Kamala” and other surgeries, there was some ray of having good governance for the next five years.
The euphoria, however, is short lived and much to the embarrassment of all those who hoped Karnataka to prosper under the rule of the ‘party with a difference’ are crestfallen and frustrated having witnessed the worst ever government in the history of the state of Karnataka. The ugly politics of corruption, nepotism, blatant misuse of power, horse trading, allegations and counter allegations, scams, fight for power, Governor’s activism etc., have become the order of the day leaving little or no time for real governance. To sum up in one sentence people are just fed up of the never-ending theatrics, even as the developmental activity in the state has come to a complete standstill.
Credibility damaged
Having overcome the initial onslaught from Reddy brothers which almost threatened the government within a year the BJP found itself on a sticky wicket with Lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hegde resigning as the Lokayukta accusing the government of inaction on the mining mafia (Reddy brothers). Though Justice Santhosh Hegde withdrew his resignation following assurance from the Chief Minister, enough damage was done to the credibility of the BJP not only in the state but also nationwide as his resignation attracted nationwide attention. The Congress gauged the prevalent mood and undertook the much publicized padyatra to Bellary, which many believe gave the party some mileage. But that did not result in votes in the by-elections held subsequently, much to the consternation and disappointment of the Congress leaders.
The ugly incidents in the floor of the state assembly following the ‘resort politics” masterminded by Kumaraswamy who seems to be struggling to keep his rank and file together, was another jolt for the ruling BJP, which was caught unawares. This led to the Karnataka assembly witnessing the worst kind of incidents in the floor of the state assembly just a few weeks ago. Despite winning the trust vote in the assembly following the high drama, if any one thought the beleaguered Chief Minister will have some respite from his never-ending troubles, they were sadly mistaken. The Chief Minister’s chair has become shakier than ever before and now there is all possibility of the BJP’s central leadership finding a suitable candidate to replace him. There is all possibility of Yeddyurappa becoming a liability to the BJP with his refusal to step down even in the face of prima-facie involvement in corruption scandals.
It was expected that at least after winning the trust vote in the assembly Yeddyurappa government would channelize its energies towards governance. But that is not be. Yeddyurappa thought it fit to devise populist schemes like distributing sarees, (skirts and blouses and what not to follow next) aimed at diverting public attention from real issues. In the process considerable money was wasted in arranging programmes to distribute these sarees in different parts of the state which drew more flak than accolades to the Chief Minister.
Where is the Governance?
It is not an exaggeration that there is no governance at all in the state in the last six months as the government is concentrating all its energies and resources in clinging on to power. Lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hegde had rightly said that there is no governance in the state as a large number of files are pending on the tables of the ministers, which has led to this paralysis. The efforts of the opposition to topple the BJP government and those of some disgruntled elements within the BJP trying to destabilize the government, has rendered the Yeddyurappa government ineffective and fragile. He became a laughing stock often crying in public and becoming emotional when he needed to be firm and brave. Under his government from the 2nd most developed state in India Karnataka has now attained the dubious recognition of being the most corrupt state in the country.
While the ruling BJP deserves much of the flak for the sorry state of affairs in Karnataka the opposition parties both Congress and JD(S) are equally responsible for bringing ignominy to the state by their relentless efforts to bring down the democratically elected government. When the people of the state have given mandate and an opportunity for the BJP to rule for five years, as responsible opposition parties it is their responsibility to ensure or allow the government to complete its full five year term. But the power hungry opposition seems to be in no mood to sit in the opposition and fight their way to power, just as the BJP had done. Rather it is finding the easy way out of resorting to horse-trading to capture gaddi and in the process trample all democratic ways of functioning .
Both the Congress and the JD(S) are a party to this mechanism of coming to power indirectly when they do not have the mandate of the electorate. When Congress and JD(S) leaders are attacking the BJP for lack of governance they take equal culpability for the present chaos prevailing in the state. The role of the proactive Governor in trying to fish in the troubled waters of the murky politics in Karnataka, has been another crucial factor that added to the discomfiture of the ruling BJP. As his actions aptly indicated, he behaved like a true agent of the Congress party at the centre.
The Congress and the JD(S) must do some soul searching and find alternate or rather better ways to ensure that the BJP falls prey to its own blunders, machinations and destabilizing efforts from within the party. With its own leaders plotting all sorts of mechanisms to obfuscate the situation, the BJP does not need an opposition to topple it. In the last two and half years the government has done nothing credible to fulfill its election promise of according top priority to development, which is the need of the hour.
In the muddy political scenario prevalent in Karnataka the principles of democracy have taken a severe battering. With more and more crorepatis becoming netaas willy-nilly their criminal background, it is but natural that the iniquitous and byzantine ways of politics will continue, much to the vexation of the people who elected them. Having done that mistake they now seems to be asking “will some one give us a break from this tamasha?”
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