Karnataka:Two Independent MLAs' join JDS-INC government

R Shankar and H Nagesh, both Independent members of state Legislative Assembly were today inducted into the state ministry as cabinet ministers in the HD Kumaraswamy led Janata Dal-Secular(JDS)-Indian National Congress(INC) alliance government.

By this move, the leaders of the coalition parties have been successful in ensuring both the Independent legislators from crossing over to the 105 members strong main opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party. It's no public secret that the saffron party leaders of the state have stumbled a handful of times in trying to install a government of their own.The BJP needs at least 113 members in a house of 224 to form a government but lady luck has been shying ever since the new Assembly was constituted after the May 2018 general elections.

R Shankar in fact won on a Karnataka Prajakeeya Janata Party(KPJP) ticket from Ranebennur constituency in Haveri district.The party launched by Upendra, the maverick Kannada actor and film maker drew a blank across the state but for in Ranebennur.Even in Ranebennur, R Shankar decided to contest from the actor's new party only after failing to bag a ticket to contest on behalf of the Congress party. KH Koliwad,former Speaker who retained the Congress ticket bowed down to R Shankar.

The very next day after counting of votes got over and a piquant situation arose wherein both, the BJP and INC were in no better situation to form a government R Shankar played a double game. In the morning he accompanied by KS Eshwarappa, former BJP Deputy Chief Minister and new Shivamogga MLA went to the house of BS Yeddyurappa, state BJP president for extending support to form a government.But by evening he sprung a surprise by emerging in the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee(KPCC) office and made an announcement of supporting the Congress party in enabling it to assume power.

He belongs to the shepherd community to which both, Siddaramaiah, former Congress chief minister and KS Eshwarappa belong to.The same R Shankar was dropped during a similar cabinet expansion exercise in December 2018 for refusing to join the Congress party. However this time around merging his party alongwith Congress is one of the main conditions for swearing him for the second time within six months as a minister.

H Nagesh, a former IRS officer after failing to get the Congress party ticket jumped into the fray as an Independent and also triumphed from Mulabagal SC reserved constituency ensuring the defeat of the official Congress candidate.He was also dilly dallying alongwith R Shankar in switching over to the BJP for green pastures but however was prevailed upon by the Congress bigwigs with an assurance of suitable compensation for his gesture to support.

The two Independent MLAs' who defeated the official Congress candidates are now new cabinet ministers but most of all those who were nursing dreams about becoming the same are now literally on the cross roads.Ramesh Jharkiholi, former Belagavi district in charge minister and Gokak Congress MLA, whose moves of camping at distant Mumbai with a few party MLAs' had sent shocking waves to the ruling parties. He kept on daring the highcommand with frequent outbursts of bidding adieu to the parent party and joining hands with the BJP.

But till date nothing of that sort has happened and on the other hand the number of legislators who were claimed to be with him and their numerical strength is said to be dwindling.BC Patil, former cop turned politician and four time Congress MLA from Hirekerur in Haveri district had also made a claim to the cabinet berth on a Lingayat quota. Off late he had also been quite vocal in his attack against the party, but continues to miss the cabinet bus once again.

R Roshan Baig, seven time Shivajinagar MLA has placed a step outside the Congress and looks to be joining the BJP soon if his change in public rhetoric towards the latter can be taken into consideration.R Ramalingareddy, former minister and eight time Congress MLA from the city has been embarrassing the party higher ups' for depriving him a cabinet position while including much younger and new blood.

HK Patil continues to find fault with his own party government's decisions every now and then. There are many others within the Congress who appear to be adhering to a wait and watch policy. But whether such watching will help the BJP in forming its own government or pave way for the collapse of the present government needs to be seen.

-Manohar Yadavatti

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