Editorial in The Indian Express on the BJP crisis in Karnataka:
“The compromise formula — a minister exiting, officials replaced — may have bought the Karnataka wing of the BJP time. But the clock is ticking, and another round of bickering cannot be said to be averted.
“The sordid drama was regrettable on many counts. For one, it exposed the unsavoury interface between business and politics. Then there are too many questions left hanging. Can partisan interests hold a government hostage? Can bureaucrats and district officials become pawns in chess games that their political masters play?
“For the steel frame to be so blatantly twisted speaks of its complete subordination to the political process. But the most disquieting aspect of the drama was its pettiness…. The clumsy compromise, that too played out in public, has highlighted the absence of a strong central leadership that can exert its will.”
Read the full editorial: Present tense
Tags: B.S. Yediyurappa, BJP, Churumuri, Reddy Brothers, Sans Serif, Shobha Karandlaje, The Indian Express, Yedi
10 November 2009 at 12:51 pm
The real tragedy for Karnataka in my view can be summarised as:
- Lack of local leaders
- Lack of local money
- Lack of state-wide development
North Karnataka has been effectively mortgaged to the mining barons. None of the mine owners are Kannadigas! Baldotas, Lads, Reddys, etc. Situation is no better in S Karnataka with money and power in the hands of non-Kannadigas. Kannadiga leaders are busy in small-time petty politics and are heavily dependent on outside money and power to win elections. Media is controlled by non-Kannadigas (Udaya, TV 9, etc) except for Kasturi channel.
When money power is the name of the game, all kinds of characters emerge from the shadows to play their part in grabbing power.
The situation is therefore ripe for a Bal/Raj Thackeray equivalent to emerge. Same situation in Maharashtra where Marathis are only found in low level Govt jobs. Strong possibility of Karnataka becoming the Bihar of the South in the next 10-15 years!
10 November 2009 at 3:09 pm
I am ashamed of the way this drama was played out. The party that claimed to be different has turned out to be a party that has bowed down to money, that too money made by looting the natural resources of this state. I wonder if the 40 crore crown they presented to Lord Balaji sits easy on the Lord’s head today. BJP has had this history of undermining the women in their party, but removing Shobha Karandlaje is really the pits.
10 November 2009 at 3:44 pm
Good one… if Yeddy has any self respect (????) he has to step down if such a coup happens again… I agree with Sanjay to certain extent, we do not have a strong local party with localites in it (like DMK or AIADMK), we’ve fragile National Parties with the high commands of these parties least bothered about Karnataka. BJP high command is self divided what solution can they bring in Karnataka….Congress also wld have done the same thing if it had a similar situation…. Karnataka stands divided in all respects.. this is because of other state players have an upper hand in all aspects.. our state politicians will be ready to pledge the state for their personal gains… shame on them…
10 November 2009 at 9:48 pm
agree with all the above three comments. but there is hope amidst all these rubbish. karnataka rakshana vedike led by crusader narayana gowda with lakhs of members is planning to launch a regional party. this time kannadigas can expect a true regional party committed for kannada cause.
it is heartening to see MNS giving example of kannada organisations while defending its agitation. raj thackery said this during interview to times now.
one must appreciate the dignified conduct of kumaraswamy and devegowda during bjp chaos. things are changing for the good for the JD S .
11 November 2009 at 2:57 pm
dr ramesh…. were Devegowda and Kumaranna diginified… who knows what filthy tricks they were playing behind the scenese… go mukha vyaghragaLu…
11 November 2009 at 11:18 pm
BJP appears to be in its death throes and if the high command wants to commit Harakiri nobody can prevent it
11 November 2009 at 11:54 pm
>>”dr ramesh…. were Devegowda and Kumaranna diginified… who knows what filthy tricks they were playing behind the scenese… go mukha vyaghragaLu…”
gomukha vyaghragaLu? really? after all this? i’d go with a gomukha vyaghra any day than a aLumunji CM who admits in the front page of the newspaper (today’s VK, no less) that the state’s forest and mine resources are being looted and he can do nothing about it! it is one thing for it to be an open secret and it is TOTALLY another for the chief minister of the state to plead helplessness!! i mean, W. T. F !
seriously, how many here still delude yourself and think HDK is NOT the least of the evils?