Cong-JDS govt on edge amid fears of LS polls outcome impact on stability
Bengaluru: As the Congress-JDS government in Karnataka led by H D Kumaraswamy completes one year on Thursday, the ruling coalition is on the edge with the Lok Sabha results widely expected to have a bearing on its stability.
It was exactly one year ago that Kumaraswamy was sworn in as head of the coalition government after heightened political drama that saw B S Yeddyurappa, the leader of the single largest party BJP, resigning as Chief Minister of a three-day old government, unable to prove his majority in the assembly. Kumaraswamy's swearing in on May 23, 2018 saw a galaxy of top leaders and regional satraps in a rare public show of unity, perceived as a possible harbinger of a broad-based anti-BJP alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Exactly one year after that historic get together of leaders of non-BJP parties, that later came to be known as "mahagatbandan", results of Lok Sabha polls will be declared that will determine the very fate of those who aspired to defeat the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led saffron party.
Equally importantly, it is also expected to impact the longevity of the Kumaraswamy led coalition government here.
With pollsters predicting BJP will win big in Karnataka by bagging over 21 of 28 seats, compared to 17 last time, it has cast its shadow on any plans by the coalition to celebrate one year in office, as the alliance stability itself is at stake.
It has been a turbulent one year for the government that came into existence as Congress and JD(S), arch rivals in the old Mysuru region, came together to form a coalition as the May 2018 assembly polls threw up a hung verdict.
Coalition worries, dissidence in alliance partner Congress and a strong BJP with 104 MLAs allegedly trying to poach MLAs of the ruling alliance repeatedly aiming to destabilize the government marred the smooth functioning of the government. Reflecting strains in the coalition, Kumaraswamy had even said he was "not happy" in the top post.
