11-21-2007, 04:47 AM
The Karnataka drama
The short-lived drama of government formation by the BJP and its fall within a week in Karnataka was most unfortunate and could have been avoided.
The BJP should not have fallen for the arrangement of sharing power with the JD(S) in its eagerness to form the first-ever government in the south. It should have opted for elections.
K. Venkataraman,
Mumbai
The BJP committed the grave folly of aligning with the unpredictable JD(S) for the second time and paid the price. Knowing the ways of its alliance partner, it should have opted to face elections. It would have helped the BJP to regain its credibility and perhaps win a majority on its own.
N.S. Shenoy,
Coimbatore
The BJP should not have entered into a re-marriage with the JD(S). Unfortunately, it acted in haste and fell for the temptation of power. The Karnataka development goes to prove that both the BJP and the JD(S) are purely opportunistic and have no moral right to run a government.
What do these parties want to prove? That they can get away with anything?
C. David,
Bangalore
Even though the BJP was aware that its renewed coalition with the JD (S) might not last long in Karnataka, it opted for it as it could not resist the temptation of forming its first-ever government in the south. The people too welcomed the new arrangement as it would save the expenditure on mid-term polls.
<b>
The JD(S) leader, H.D. Deve Gowdaâs claim that his party sought to impose conditions for extending support to the BJP because of some bad experience during the Kumaraswamy regime is unconvincing. What prevented his party from parting ways with the BJP then?</b>
K.N. Ramani,
Coimbatore
The episode enacted in Bangalore on November 19 could have been averted had the Governor, in the first instance, recommended the dissolution of the Assembly. The so-called âunconditional supportâ extended by the JD(S) was always in doubt. Later, it turned out that the âunconditional supportâ had 12 conditions. The Governor has done well at least now to recommend the dissolution of the Assembly.
K.P. Venugopalan,
Mumbai
The development in Karnataka is the latest manifestation of the power-centric attitude of political parties. The way political leaders fight for plum ministries in a coalition shows they have no concern for development issues. What matters to them is power, even at the cost of political instability.
Arivendu Bhardwaj,
Gurgaon
Ambrose Bierce was right when he said: âPolitics is a strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles.â
The immediate reason for the JD(S)â withdrawal of support to the eight-day old government is that it was not given the Mining and Urban Development portfolios. One hopes the Karnataka voters will realise at least now that they have no say in deciding on issues.
A.P. Jayanthram,
Chennai
Of late, it has become a habit for political parties that forge power-sharing agreements to bargain for important portfolios. It is clear that no party cares for the welfare of the people.
V.R. Ravikumar,
Chennai
Coalition governments are not only stumbling blocks to the progress of a State but also a burden on the people. They breed corruption as most political parties look only for short-term gains.
A.P. Thiruvadi,
Chennai
The BJPâs desire for power and the JD(S)â volte face have plunged Karnataka into a political mishmash. I do not think such twists and turns have been witnessed anywhere before.
The BJP should not have formed a government without hammering out its differences with the JD(S) over portfolio allocation.
K. Ramachandran,
Madurai
The political farce enacted in Karnataka not only baffles the common man but also disillusions him. Corrective measures in the form of legislation or amendments are the need of the hour.
The onus for correcting the system lies with the politicians themselves. They should work towards curbing political instability and uncertainty before they become well entrenched. Let us work together to ensure that democracy does not become a misnomer for India.
Deepti Pande,
Nainital
The JD(S)â act of parading its MLAs in front of the President, expressing support to a BJP-led government, and then withdrawing support without even giving it a chance, amounts to contempt of the executive.
Something should be done to stop such things in future lest Indian politics should have no future.
N. Divakar,
Mysore
The JD(S) has done it again. But the BJP deserves the treatment since it forged ties with the JD(S) even after being let down once.
The party should learn that politics is not just about power, even if it is sought to be exercised for the first time in a State.
E.K. Shyam Kumar,
Kochi
Enough is enough! The merry go-round power-sharing exercises must come to an end in Karnataka. The people are entitled to a stable government.
George Olivera,
Mysore
Chief Minster B.S. Yeddyurappaâs resignation vindicates the Congress stand that no stable government could be formed in Karnataka.
While the Bommai case was historic in one respect, the JD(S)-BJP case will become a precedent for Governors to gauge the possibility of a combineâs stability.
K.N. Bhagavan,
Bangalore
The short-lived drama of government formation by the BJP and its fall within a week in Karnataka was most unfortunate and could have been avoided.
The BJP should not have fallen for the arrangement of sharing power with the JD(S) in its eagerness to form the first-ever government in the south. It should have opted for elections.
K. Venkataraman,
Mumbai
The BJP committed the grave folly of aligning with the unpredictable JD(S) for the second time and paid the price. Knowing the ways of its alliance partner, it should have opted to face elections. It would have helped the BJP to regain its credibility and perhaps win a majority on its own.
N.S. Shenoy,
Coimbatore
The BJP should not have entered into a re-marriage with the JD(S). Unfortunately, it acted in haste and fell for the temptation of power. The Karnataka development goes to prove that both the BJP and the JD(S) are purely opportunistic and have no moral right to run a government.
What do these parties want to prove? That they can get away with anything?
C. David,
Bangalore
Even though the BJP was aware that its renewed coalition with the JD (S) might not last long in Karnataka, it opted for it as it could not resist the temptation of forming its first-ever government in the south. The people too welcomed the new arrangement as it would save the expenditure on mid-term polls.
<b>
The JD(S) leader, H.D. Deve Gowdaâs claim that his party sought to impose conditions for extending support to the BJP because of some bad experience during the Kumaraswamy regime is unconvincing. What prevented his party from parting ways with the BJP then?</b>
K.N. Ramani,
Coimbatore
The episode enacted in Bangalore on November 19 could have been averted had the Governor, in the first instance, recommended the dissolution of the Assembly. The so-called âunconditional supportâ extended by the JD(S) was always in doubt. Later, it turned out that the âunconditional supportâ had 12 conditions. The Governor has done well at least now to recommend the dissolution of the Assembly.
K.P. Venugopalan,
Mumbai
The development in Karnataka is the latest manifestation of the power-centric attitude of political parties. The way political leaders fight for plum ministries in a coalition shows they have no concern for development issues. What matters to them is power, even at the cost of political instability.
Arivendu Bhardwaj,
Gurgaon
Ambrose Bierce was right when he said: âPolitics is a strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles.â
The immediate reason for the JD(S)â withdrawal of support to the eight-day old government is that it was not given the Mining and Urban Development portfolios. One hopes the Karnataka voters will realise at least now that they have no say in deciding on issues.
A.P. Jayanthram,
Chennai
Of late, it has become a habit for political parties that forge power-sharing agreements to bargain for important portfolios. It is clear that no party cares for the welfare of the people.
V.R. Ravikumar,
Chennai
Coalition governments are not only stumbling blocks to the progress of a State but also a burden on the people. They breed corruption as most political parties look only for short-term gains.
A.P. Thiruvadi,
Chennai
The BJPâs desire for power and the JD(S)â volte face have plunged Karnataka into a political mishmash. I do not think such twists and turns have been witnessed anywhere before.
The BJP should not have formed a government without hammering out its differences with the JD(S) over portfolio allocation.
K. Ramachandran,
Madurai
The political farce enacted in Karnataka not only baffles the common man but also disillusions him. Corrective measures in the form of legislation or amendments are the need of the hour.
The onus for correcting the system lies with the politicians themselves. They should work towards curbing political instability and uncertainty before they become well entrenched. Let us work together to ensure that democracy does not become a misnomer for India.
Deepti Pande,
Nainital
The JD(S)â act of parading its MLAs in front of the President, expressing support to a BJP-led government, and then withdrawing support without even giving it a chance, amounts to contempt of the executive.
Something should be done to stop such things in future lest Indian politics should have no future.
N. Divakar,
Mysore
The JD(S) has done it again. But the BJP deserves the treatment since it forged ties with the JD(S) even after being let down once.
The party should learn that politics is not just about power, even if it is sought to be exercised for the first time in a State.
E.K. Shyam Kumar,
Kochi
Enough is enough! The merry go-round power-sharing exercises must come to an end in Karnataka. The people are entitled to a stable government.
George Olivera,
Mysore
Chief Minster B.S. Yeddyurappaâs resignation vindicates the Congress stand that no stable government could be formed in Karnataka.
While the Bommai case was historic in one respect, the JD(S)-BJP case will become a precedent for Governors to gauge the possibility of a combineâs stability.
K.N. Bhagavan,
Bangalore