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Krishna keeps option of tie-up with Deve Gowda open

A Special Correspondent in Bangalore

For the first time, the Congress in Karnataka has not ruled out the possibility of striking an electoral alliance with its one-time bete noir, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda.

S M Krishna, newly appointed president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, agreed with Mallikarjuna Kharge, leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, that the party should have nothing to do with Deve Gowda's plan for an electoral understanding for the assembly election due in November.

"But so far as electoral alliances are concerned, I would like to discuss it in the executive committee, which I shall call soon," he added, causing speculation.

This is the first time in at least three decades that the Congress is even talking of the possibility of an electoral alliance with a group that has till now been its primary rival in the state.

Krishna's statement assumes significance on more than one count. Talk in political circles is that Deve Gowda's dissident activity since last year is aimed at splitting the Janata Dal.

Now that his man, Deputy Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah, is president of the Dal's state unit, it will be easier for Deve Gowda to hold on to the party symbol in the event of a split and strike a deal with the Congress.

"Many leaders of our party in Delhi believe Deve Gowda's support base of 1994 (when the Janata Dal swept the Vokkaliga-dominated region of the erstwhile Mysore state) is still intact. They believe him a little more than they believe us," a senior Congressman commented.

Many in the Dal know Deve Gowda's views about the assembly election. They say he believes no single party will be able to form the government in Karnataka and an alliance, before or after the election, will be necessary.

In addition, there is talk of Chief Minister J H Patel and his supporters joining hands with Lok Shakti leader and Union Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde.

Hegde, in turn, has an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. That will finish the Janata Dal as a major contender for power.

In fact, Krishna's appointment as president is being seen as an effort to help maintain good relations with Deve Gowda. Krishna and Deve Gowda, both Vokkaligas, have been friendly since the latter became prime minister in 1996.

It was in this context that Kharge and former minister D B Chandre Gowda, raised the issue at the massive felicitation for Krishna in Bangalore soon after his arrival from Bombay on Wednesday.

Chandre Gowda, who left the Dal because of differences with Deve Gowda, spoke of reports in the media about Krishna's friendship with Deve Gowda. "There is constant talk that the reason for your appointment as president is to help in having an electoral understanding with the former prime minister. Please do not have anything to do with anybody, leave alone the 'tande makkala party' (party of father and son).''

Krishna's reply came at the fag end of his speech. He said any alliance is a matter to be discussed by the executive committee.

But not many Congress politicians were happy with his reply. "It sends a wrong signal to the other major caste group, the Lingayats. It will be easy for Krishna to acquire a Lingayat-friendly image, but Deve Gowda definitely has an anti-Lingayat image," said one.

At the felicitation, Krishna also cracked jokes at Deve Gowda's expense. "He does not have five MPs with him today, but he wants to become prime minister again," he quipped. This went down well with the huge audience.

Yet, a doubt lingers in the minds of Congressmen.

The Karnataka state page

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