Karnataka govt stands: Congress leaders declare in Kumaraswamy's presence

Politics

Parameshwara added that the BJP, which is the opposition in the state, is attempting to destabilise the state government.

Soumya Chatterjee

Amidst rumours of the government falling and a failure of the coalition, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Friday confirmed that ministers of the state have decided to continue supporting the coalition government led by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. Parameshwara made the statement following an informal meeting of ministers in the state in 'Krishna', the official residence of CM Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru. "The CM called an informal meeting to take stock of the elections after the Parliamentary results. We have discussed it at length. This mandate has been given for the national election and not the state election. We continue in the state with the coalition government led by CM Kumaraswamy. All our MLAs are with us," Parameshwara, who belongs to the Congress party, said. CM Kumaraswamy refused to speak to the media following the meeting. All questions addressed to him were answered by other ministers. Parameshwara further added that the BJP, which is the opposition in the state, is attempting to destabilise the state government. "Opposition is trying to destabilise our government. They will not be successful and we will not allow them to. This is the decision. We have reposed faith and confidence in the coalition government led by Kumaraswamy," Parameshwara added. In the results of the Lok Sabha elections announced on Thursday, the BJP swept 25 out of 28 seats in Karnataka, with the JD(S) and Congress, which fought the elections together, each winning just one seat. CM Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy and his father HD Deve Gowda were among the JD(S) leaders defeated in the elections. ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳ ಗೃಹ ಕಚೇರಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಹೆಚ್.ಡಿ. ಕುಮಾರಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಅವರ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅನೌಪಚಾರಿಕ ಸಚಿವ ಸಂಪುಟ ಸಭೆ ಜರುಗಿತು. ಸಭೆಯ ಬಳಿಕ ನಡೆದ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಗೋಷ್ಠಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಡಿಸಿಎಂ @DrParameshwara, ಕಂದಾಯ ಸಚಿವ @RV_Deshpande, ಕೈಗಾರಿಕಾ ಸಚಿವ @thekjgeorge ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಸಚಿವ ಸಂಪುಟದ ಎಲ್ಲ ಸದಸ್ಯರು ಹಾಜರಿದ್ದರು. pic.twitter.com/rV35381QcU — CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) May 24, 2019 Multiple political meetings took place in Bengaluru after the results were declared. First, a meeting of JD(S) leaders was held at the residence of HD Deve Gowda in Bengaluru on Thursday. Another meeting of Congress ministers was held at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Friday. It was followed by an informal cabinet meeting held at ‘Krishna’, the official residence of the Chief Minister in Bengaluru.   Since taking charge just over a year ago, the Kumaraswamy-led coalition government has been forced to fend off multiple attempts by the BJP to usurp power in the state. Reports have also suggested that the BJP will make another attempt to take power in the state following the Lok Sabha elections. In the 224-seat Karnataka Assembly, the Congress has 79 MLAs after the party won the bye-election in Kundgol constituency on Thursday. The JD(S) has 37 MLAs while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has one MLA. The BJP has 105 seats after its win in the Chincholi constituency on Thursday while two other MLAs are independents. 

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As Mahadayi river mouth dries up, 4 north Karnataka districts reel under water crisis

Water Crisis

With only two inches of water left at the mouth of the Mahadayi river, residents of Belagavi, Gadag, Bagalkote and Dharwad districts wait desperately for the monsoon.

Nagaratna Harikant With River Mahadayi, a major source of potable water for the Mumbai-Karnataka region, drying up, north Karnataka reels under a severe water crisis, signalling one of the worst summers it has witnessed. The mouth of the Mahadayi river at Degaon village in Bhimgad Reserve Forest in Khanapur taluk of Belagavi district has dried up even before the monsoon season. In fact, water should have been available at the source until after May, claim the residents here. “Usually there would be water until the summer was over. But for the past 4-5 years, the river dries up in the summer. But this time, the water crisis has hit us even earlier,” says Raju Dhond, Degaon resident and gram panchayat member. Dhond claimed that according to the local officials the monsoon may arrive by June 16. The much-talked Mahadayi river diversion project is aimed at providing water to Belagavi, Gadag, Bagalkote districts and to 11 taluks of Dharwad district, as there is no major water source in these districts. The project is aimed at supplying water from the Mahadayi river to the Malaprabha river – which takes birth in Khanapur in Belagavi district – through a canal. However, the project is still on the anvil. The river flows 35 km in Karnataka before entering the state of Goa where it is known as the Mandovi. The length of the river in Goa is 45 km and it joins the Arabian Sea at Panjim. In fact, after years of protests, the Mahadayi tribunal, in its August 14, 2018 order, allotted 5.4 TMC of water to Karnataka. Besides this, 8.02 TMC of water has been allotted for power generation to the state. But even after 9 months, no file has moved yet. The Kalasa-Banduri Nala work that the state had undertaken – much before the verdict came out – had to be stopped after Goa objected to it. Moreover, the Central government is yet to issue a notification on the tribunal’s direction. “We will take up the work once the Centre issues a notification in this regard,” Karnataka Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar had assured earlier. While Mahadayi has become fodder for political parties, especially during campaigning for the previous state Assembly polls, no party raised the issue during the Lok Sabha election. In reality, residents say that the situation is very grim as there is only two inches of water left at the river’s mouth. “There is no trace of water in the Kalasa-Bhanduri Nala, which is about 22 km from the river’s mouth. Lack of adequate rainfall in the Western Ghats has worsened the situation here. People living on the fringes of the forest where the river flows are worried about the harsh summer that is staring at them,” Santhosh, a resident of city said. With the water crisis is worsening, locals are hoping that the newly-elected Central government will address the issue on priority to quench the thirst of people here. Story by www.storyinfinity.com (Subs and Scribes Media Ventures LLP).

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‘Coalition govt in Karnataka will survive 100%’: Siddaramaiah dismisses speculation

Lok Sabha 2019

With only two seats in the Congress-JD(S) kitty, apprehensions have risen regarding the survival of the government.

TNM Staff

In the aftermath of the election debacle, Congress and JD(S) leaders huddled together in Chief MInister Kumaraswamy's home office – Krishna in Bengaluru on Friday. Never before in the history of Karnataka elections has the Congress ever suffered such a crushing defeat. With only two constituencies in the Congress-JD(S) kitty, the loss has dented the morale of the party, and apprehensions have risen regarding the survival of the government. An aura of defeat surrounded Siddaramaiah as he was ushered into his car on Friday morning. Speaking to the media, Siddaramaiah tried to put on a brave face and said, “This government will survive. I am telling you, it will survive 100%. The Parliamentary election results will not affect the coalition. There are no doubts about it.” Speaking to TNM, Minister for Urban Development and Housing in Karnataka, UT Khader reiterated that there is no threat to the coalition government. “We are only going to discuss what went wrong (referring to the emergency meeting) and what we need to do to become strong. No, Kumaraswamy is not resigning and the coalition government will continue,” he added. Exuding an air of confidence, DK Suresh, lone Congress MP from Bengaluru Rural told TNM that he has no doubt about the coalition’s strength. “Yes, the people have delivered their verdict. At a time like this, we need to discuss why this happened. We need to sit own with party workers and chalk out strategies. We are injured, we have enough doctors to heal the wounds. Kumaraswamy will not resign. The coalition government will complete 5 years,” he added. Speculation is rife in political circles that the BJP in Karnataka is likely to poach Congress and JD(S) MLAs in a bid to topple the government. Since the Congress-JD(S) combine won only two seats in the Lok Sabha elections, several leaders in the grand old party too have demanded that a Congress Chief Minister must be appointed and Kumaraswamy must resign. With rumours of instability doing the rounds, only time will tell if the coalition in the state survives.

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Prajwal Revanna says he’ll quit as Hassan MP to make way for grandad HD Deve Gowda

Lok Sabha 2019

However, the party is expected to deny his offer.

Theja Ram

A pall of gloom has set in Karnataka's Hassan district, the single constituency in the JD(S)'s kitty. Despite a massive victory, party workers say they have no reason to rejoice as the election brought a crushing defeat for 87-year-old HD Deve Gowda – the life and blood of the JD(S). Deve Gowda suffered a massive defeat against BJP's GS Basavaraju in Tumakuru. Now, his grandson Prajwal Revanna, who won the election in Hassan, said on Friday that he has decided to step down from his Parliamentarian post and vacate the seat for his grandfather – HD Deve Gowda. "My grandfather made so many sacrifices for the people of Karnataka. The party workers and I, we cannot bear the loss. He is the backbone of our party. I have decided to vacate the seat for him and resign. We will celebrate after he wins," Prajwal Revanna told TNM. Prajwal said that he has no reason to rejoice until he sees his grandfather back in power. He also held talks with JD(S) party workers in Hassan and pleaded with the defeated cadre to work once more for Deve Gowda. "I have only one request for the party workers. Deve Gowda has to come back to power. He was  meant to serve the people. In order to reinstate the gap left by his defeat and in order to build confidence in our party workers, I have made this decision. We will have reason to celebrate once he wins, until then I request them to support my decision," he added. However, no official call has been taken by the party in this regard, so far. Prajwal Revanna said he will arrive in Bengaluru on Friday afternoon and hold talks with his grandfather HD Deve Gowda and his uncle HD Kumaraswamy regarding his decision to resign. "I am leaving for Bengaluru. I will try to convince my grandfather that it’s the people's choice that he contest from Hassan. I want him to win and so do JD(S) party workers," he added. It is entirely likely that this is just emotional talk and Prajwal will continue to represent Hassan, political observers said. Deve Gowda lost by a margin of 13,339 votes in Tumakuru. Although it was not his first defeat, it was indeed a severe blow to the party's morale as the JD(S) candidate and CM HD Kumaraswamy's son, NIkhil KUmaraswamy, too, lost the Mandya seat to Sumalatha Ambareesh. By suffering defeat in their bastions, the JD(S) was blown to smithereens this election. JD(S) insiders say that Prajwal Revanna's move is a way the party is still clinging on to hope and that not many party workers are pleased with the patriarch, who chose to further the careers of his grandsons as opposed to safeguard party interests. "We had the chance to win. We held Mandya for so many decades. We could have won it with no difficulty at all had Deve Gowda opted to field a senior politician, nuanced and experienced, from Mandya itself. The brothers Kumaraswamy and HD Revanna sabotaged each other in our turf. With Prajwal sacrificing his seat to his grandfather, he is only hoping that Deve Gowda will appoint him the party's state President when the time is right. He does not want Nikhil to take over at any cost," a source said.

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PC Mohan wins 3rd straight time from Bengaluru, citizens want him as Union Rail Min

Lok Sabha 2019

Citizens hope that this will help in getting a full-fledged suburban rail network in the city as the PMO had curiously backtracked on giving railway land free for the project.

TNM Staff

As the BJP revelry continues post its emphatic victory in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, a section of active citizenry in Bengaluru has already started a campaign for their MP, PC Mohan to be made the Railway Minister of the country. This is their only hope to have a full-fledged suburban rail network as the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had curiously backtracked on giving railway land free for the project. “Dear @narendramodi, we request you to appoint @PCMohanMP as Railways Minister of India. Given the keen interest @PCMohanMP has shown to improve Railways, he deserves it!,” one such Twitter handle said.   Dear @narendramodi, we request you to appoint @PCMohanMP as Railways Minister of India. Given the keen interest @PCMohanMP has shown to improve Railways, he deserves it! #PCMohanForRailwaysMinister @PMOIndia @AmitShah @NammaWhitefield @CA4Blr @citizensforblr @BlrSuburbanRail https://t.co/fwQuRkhtqD — Bengaluru Suburban Rail Users (@BlrSuburbanRail) May 23, 2019   The three-time MP from Bengaluru Central is known to be one of the few political leaders who has spoken and acted in support of the elusive suburban rail project in Bengaluru.  As widely reported a week ago, the long overdue suburban rail system like that in Mumbai, Chennai and other metro cities in India, had faced yet another hurdle. This move was contrary to the position held by the Union government led by Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. The PMO has suggested breaking up the entire project into smaller projects, that too on a Public-Private-Partnership model instead of a holistic network.  Other objections made by the PMO’s office were related to the number of planned stations within the city and some routes overlapping with the Bengaluru Metro Railway. The move by the PMO had triggered strong opposition from citizen groups. More than 35 such organisations met the Divisional Railway Manager A K Verma and submitted a memorandum. A group of citizens had also started an online ‘Shame on BJP’ petition. A part of the petition read, “Now the PMO has shockingly decided to go back on it’s commitment  of Suburban Rail on a whim , causing Bangalore citizens &!its children untold damage to its health & basic rights . We have been agitating for this for years , knowing this is our only sustainable, cost effective and future proof solution to our traffic woes.  It needs to be done.  

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Major gains for BJP in West Bengal, Mamata fails to prevent Modi wave in home turf

Lok Sabha 2019

While the numbers may still look respectable for the Trinamool supremo, she has been outwitted by Modi-Amit Shah duo in her own backyard.

TNM Staff

Making its victory only sweeter in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has won a massive 18 seats in Bengal, a significant improvement from its best ever tally of two seats in 2014. Not even the third horse in the race until the 2016 Assembly elections, the BJP was engaged in a neck-and neck fight in another 20 seats.As Narendra Modi is all set to retain the Prime Minister's seat with a resounding majority, this is another unprecedented feat that the Amit Shah-Narendra Modi duo has managed to pull off. The overwhelming saffron surge has left the ruling Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee understandably humiliated, and the erstwhile ruling Left staring at a blank. After an election campaign marred by violence and spanning across seven phases, the Trinamool Congress has been reduced to 22 seats, down from its 2014 tally of 34. The Congress has been made to settle for two seats. Many heavyweights and sitting MPs like former Rail Minister Dinesh Trivedi faced defeats from erstwhile TMC leaders who recently joined the saffron fold. In an acknowledgement of sorts, Mamata tweeted, “Congratulations to the winners. But all losers are not losers. We have to do a complete review and then we will share our views with you all. Let the counting process be completed fully and the VVPATs matched.” 17 rallies addressed by the PM and party president Amit Shah seem to have paid its dividends as this result has matched the exit poll predictions even to the surprise of the state leadership. The BJP seems to have been clinical in converting its gains in vote shares to seats. The party has improved its vote share by more than 25% from the 2016 Assembly elections. The Left has been wiped off the map. While numbers may still suggest a numerical superiority for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party, the surge of the Lotus signifies the tectonic shift from Left to Right in what was once a red bastion.

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Saffron sweep in Karnataka: The state has put aside differences to vote for Hindutva

Opinion

While the rest of the South has been nearly immune to the Modi wave in India, there are multiple factors that have been in play for the sweep of Karnataka.

Sowmya Aji

From 1996 to 2014, Karnataka used to be the state that consistently voted against the national trend. If the Congress came to power at the Centre, Karnataka would have voted for the Janata parties or for the BJP. If the BJP came to power, Karnataka would have voted Congress. In 2014, Karnataka joined the national bandwagon to vote for Narendra Modi. And 2019 has seen full integration, with the saffron party sweeping the state, leading to BJP winning an astonishing 25 of the state’s 28 LS seats, with very narrow margins in just Tumakuru (where JD(S)’s HD Deve Gowda lost to the BJP’s GS Basavaraju) and Chamarajanagar (where the Congress’s Dalit strongman R Dhruvanarayan lost to his former mentor V Srinivas Prasad). While the rest of the South has been nearly immune to the Modi wave in India, there are multiple factors that have been in play for the sweep of Karnataka. Up until 2014, the BJP’s grip on the state was purely through caste - they had the support of the powerful Lingayat community in North Karnataka, which has voted in any strong anti-Congress party right from the early 1990s, thanks to a blunder by then Congress president Rajiv Gandhi. He announced the removal of the tallest Lingayat leader of that time, an ailing Veerendra Patil, from the post of Karnataka CM. Patil had failed to control riots in Davanagere over the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue following then BJP president LK Advani’s rath yatra in Karnataka. The Lingayat community was furious that Rajiv chose to do this without even giving Patil the courtesy of being informed directly. Rajiv casually told a couple of senior journalists at the Bengaluru airport that the CM would be changed and left for New Delhi. That mistake caused the Lingayat base to shift entirely to Patil’s close friend Ramakrishna Hegde of the Janata Party, who later moved with his party Lok Shakti to join hands with the BJP. Once Hegde, a Brahmin, lost political relevance, the Lingayats shifted lock, stock and barrel, to a man from their own community - BS Yeddyurappa of the BJP. And since then, as a Congress leader once put it, “A Lingayat who does not support the BJP is not a Lingayat at all.” The 2019 election, however, is not just this kettle of fish. For the first time in Karnataka, caste has not mattered at all. A state that is chock full of other backward castes and a huge number of SCs and STs has put aside all its caste differences to vote for Hindutva - the militant, polarizing form of Hinduism that Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah have perfected as a political weapon. The genesis can be traced to the same riots that caused Patil to lose his seat. The Congress response, then, has possibly also resulted in the Karnataka situation now. The Congress-JD(S) combine in Karnataka can blame itself for a lot of things. Some candidates were the wrong choices and there was a lack of coordination that could have been anticipated. But no politician or political analyst in Karnataka could have seen the cross-caste integration that Hindutva achieved in a state that has consistently called itself ‘tolerant, inclusive and secular.’ There have been no major riots in Karnataka for several decades, though the communal situation in Karnataka’s coast has been a matter of concern for the minority communities and the moderate Hindu there for quite some time. But as former CM Siddaramaiah said repeatedly during the 2018 assembly polls, “Karnataka is the land of Basavanna (whom the Lingayats consider as their patron saint) who preached tolerance and equality to all.” This perception clearly changes now, as the BJP and PM Modi’s election campaign had no fig leaves of economic or social development. It was an outright appeal to muscular Hindutva that has achieved unprecedented results. Even BJP leaders are stunned at the sweep the party has achieved. As a party leader put it, “The RSS which usually gets its poll numbers bang on target, told us we would increase our Karnataka tally from 17 to 18 or 20. But we did not anticipate getting 26 out of 28.” The rout of the Congress-JD(S) camp also suggests another point that has slipped under everyone’s radar. The people of Karnataka gave 104 seats to the BJP in the 2018 assembly elections against 80 to the Congress and 38 to the JD(S). The BJP could not form government as the other two joined hands, gaining them further public sympathy. Besides this, the alliance government performed way below par, with CM HD Kumaraswamy not living up to the enormous expectations that sympathy for him had generated. The Congress’s constant bickering led by former CM Siddaramaiah also did not help the cause of the combine. The last-minute papering of cracks between the alliance partners through joint campaigns failed to convince and even angered party workers and supporters in several constituencies. It also showed a clear pattern that triangular fights went against the BJP, but a two-party situation benefits them - another trend that has reflected the national one. Views expressed are the author's own.  Sowmya Aji is a political journalist who has covered Karnataka for 26 years.

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