The recent Karnataka assembly election results had disappointed major contestants, especially the then-incumbent Congress and the main challenger, BJP. The ripples triggered by the swift action of the Congress party to forestall the Bharatiya Janata Party's bid to form the government and the subsequent drama that culminated in the ouster of the short-lived Yeddyurappa government are yet to recede even as the state is heading to another tense political times amid friction between the coalition partners Congress and JD(S).
The pace and tenacity with which the Congress kept its rival, the BJP, away from power revealed that the party was finally serious about the threats posed by the Narendra Modi-driven saffron party which had been on a winning spree since 2014, barring setbacks in a few states.
Congress’ decision to relinquish the chief minister’s post to the minor companion, JD(S), that too for a full five-year term, was hailed as a masterstroke by some while raising the eyebrows of many. Onmanorama brings to you the behind-the-curtains drama that led to the otherwise unlikely alliance assume power in Bengaluru in late May.
Alappuzha MP and newly appointed Congress Working Committee member K C Venugopal told Onmanorama about his party’s ‘Plan B’ in Karnataka, which according to him, has brought more dividends than an election win.
“We were expecting to get the magic numbers to rule Karnataka mainly because there was no anti-incumbency factor against the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah. However, at a later stage, especially after the exit polls were out, we had certain doubts,” Venugopal said in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of a public function at Pathirappally in Alappuzha on Saturday.
Venugopal then suggested to party president Rahul Gandhi about the need for a plan B. Being realistic and not over confident, Rahul understood the situation, said Venugopal. “First of all, Karnataka has a history of not re-electing a government no matter how good its governance was. It has been the case for the past 40 years,” he noted.
“So after some discussions with me also, Rahul ji assigned veteran leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ashok Gehlot and Ahmed Patel to work out the alliance with the JD(S). He called upon all of us and said if we don't get absolute majority, we should not be hungry for power and let the BJP grab the throne. “Our aim is larger. We have been opposing the BJP government at the Centre which implements a divisive agenda. At such a juncture, we should not take a stance that helps them. We should not worry about posts and positions.” This was the party president’s message to all of us.
The senior leaders, as reports earlier said, thus worked out the alliance with the JD(S).
“Rahul Gandhi is undoubtedly the architect of the Congress-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka,” said Venugopal who reportedly has a warm friendship with the Gandhi scion.
“Rahul was specific about the term ‘unconditional support’,” clarified Venugopal. “Right from the beginning we made it clear that the alliance will be unconditional. There was no big discussion over giving full-term chief ministership to the JD(S). 'Unconditional support' could be interpreted as full-term chief ministership as well. They (JD-S) can't be blamed for it. We stand by the promise,” Venugopal said in reply to a query over the apprehensions about the party’s decision to play a purported minor part in the government.
Venugopal said it was not easy at all for them to overcome the challenges posed by the BJP after it sensed that it won't be able to attain power. The drama that ensued amid the decision by the Congress and the JD(S) to go hand in hand was witnessed by the entire nation.
“With the unbelievable drama that unfolded after that, all of us saw the true face of the BJP which makes tall claims of wiping out corruption. I was in the bus along with the MLA-elects of the Congress. They were getting calls from BJP leaders, including B S Yeddyurappa, offering crores of rupees and Cabinet posts. With determination alone, we could overcome all the crises,” Venugopal said.
“When we decided to fly down to Kochi, we were denied permission. Some hotels in Kochi refused to give us rooms apparently fearing the BJP,” he said. Venugopal also revealed a trick his party played to keep the BJP in the dark about their plans. “We said we would go to Pondicherry but our real destination was Hyderabad. We called our MP Siddharama Reddy, who owns a hotel, in Hyderbad. I asked him to arrange rooms for us but there were no vacant rooms. I told that was the only option left for us and that we were coming there. Then he somehow arranged rooms for us,” Venugopal revealed.
Venugopal also recalled his party leadership stood together at that critical juncture. He said during the tense moments, Rahul used to call them every two hour enquiring about the progress of the events. “The action was one of the strongest and courageous moves by the Congress in recent times,” Venugopal said.
Asked about media reports of early fissures in the Congress-JD(S) combine, with Congress leaders like Siddaramaiah predicting an early fall of the government and CM H D Kumaraswamy apparently breaking down at a party forum ruing his decision to form the government, Venugopal said the alliance has put in place a mechanism to look into and solve whatever difference of opinion emerges.
“Difference of opinion is natural when two parties come together. But we stand by our promise and commitment,” he said.
Watch this space for a detailed interview in which K C Venugopal speaks of the Congress’ current status at the national level and particularly in Kerala, the party’s game plan for 2019 Lok Sabha polls, its prospects in the coming Assembly polls and Rahul Gandhi’s hug in the Parliament.