BJP-JD(S) rift may hit transfer of power

The tension between the BJP and its ally in Karnataka, the Janata Dal (Secular), seems to be mounting as the time of transferring the chief minister's post from incumbent Kumaraswamy to Deputy Chief Minister Yediyurappa draws near.

According to an agreement between the two parties, the Janata Dal (S) has to give over the chief ministership to BJP's Yediyurappa in October. Except that the JD(S) is now in two minds over the issue.

Sources confirm that JD(S) chief and former prime minister Deve Gowda is troubled at the prospect of going to polls with the BJP.

"The setting up of the government after the JD(S)-Congress alliance came apart last year was always a short-term solution. For a secular party like the JD(S), to go into an alliance with the BJP, is a problematic situation," said a senior minister in the Karnataka government.

Chief Minister Kumaraswamy admitted to reporters that "my MLAs would not take a transfer of power to the BJP in the right way."

In a move seen as preparation for polls, he has initiated a programme of surprise visits to rural hamlets in Karnataka. The BJP has also responded by rounding up its ministers in the state government and going on a "bus yatra" across the state in a bid to bring the government to the people.

State BJP president Sadananda Gowda, however, insists that the BJP is only depending on what Kumaraswamy has said on the floor of the House.

"He has promised on the floor of the House that the transfer of power will take place as scheduled, till now we are sticking to that," he said.

The nervousness in Bangalore, however, is palpable. A co-ordination committee meeting between the two parties scheduled this week has been put off due to the mistrust between the two sides.