The 'Nataka' of Karnataka Politics

10

Tweet

'Nataka' in Kannada means a simple English word. Drama!

Kar'nataka' in the last 4 years has seen plenty of it in its politics. High drama. Theatre of the absurd even!

The last 4 years since 2004 has seen three successive governments. A motley mix of political folk cobbling together alliances called coalitions.

The first one started off with a Congress led Congress-JD(S) government headed by Mr. Dharam Singh, a senior Congress leader of Karnataka, who was found acceptable by the King-maker patriarch of the JD(S), Mr. H D Deve Gowda. This coalition was a necessity as the electorate had given a fractured mandate. The BJP, Congress and JD(S) lined up in that order in terms of seats in the 224 member Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

The government hobbled along. Decision making was relegated to a corner. The coalition just did not work. This was a government that was just there doing a holding operations.

The hobble continued. Till the crutches were removed. A master-stroke. The patriarch of the JD(S) continued his support to the Congress led coalition but the son of the patriarch, HD Kumaraswamy broke off. He took a whole faction with him and cobbled together yet another exciting combination in the 'nataka' that was to be Karnataka.

There was much weeping in public space. Much speculation as to who had betrayed whom. Betrayal was the dominant theme at play in this drama. The players: father, son, a jilted Congress, a broken JD(S) and a triumphant BJP!

The JD(S) -BJP coalition effort was to be headed by HD Kumaraswamy for the first 20 months followed by the a BS Yediyurappa led BJP government in the next 20. The five year tenure of the Assembly was thus to be completed gracelessly. After all governance had to be ensured. And nobody wanted an election thrust on them. Least of all the people of Karnataka, who had better things to do.

.

Governance was to be by a process of mutual agreement. The first 20 months would roll by with a motley bunch of Ministers from the JD(S) and the BJP ruling the roost. The second 20 months were to be headed by the BJP. The CM to be was named. The date of transition of power was anointed as well.

This was however to be an exciting Twenty20 match of its own. The date neared and Kumaraswamy dithered. There was doubt in intent.

High drama continued till some semblance of sense and integrity prevailed. Transition happened and BS Yediyurappa of the BJP was sworn in with pomp and show. The government however lasted ten days. The JD(S) pulled out.

What followed is more 'nataka'. Some several days of suspense. Some serious talks of forming yet another coalition. And then President's Rule in the State!

That then is the recent history of the Karnataka political drama as it has unfolded in the just elapsed 4 years.

The first phase of polling has been done with and the second phase happens just about now. On the 25th of May, 2008 Karnataka will have a new government. Hopefully a single-party government as everyone in this highly dramatized political environment of the State is hoping for.

While opinion polls of every kind are predicting all kinds of possibilities, I strongly believe that no opinion poll can be accurate. No political party itself knows what will happen, despite all the seat-wise analysis it indulges in. In an exciting political democracy like India, only the EVM's hold the truth, and the truth shall be known to the server and to each one of us on the 25th of May.

If we were to Scenario Plan for the 25th, many dominant possibilities exist.

1. A pure Congress government with a pure majority of seats

2. A pure BJP government with a pure majority of seats

3. A pure JD(S) government with a pure majority of seats

4. A fractured mandate with a near equal sprinkling of seats across the three dominant parties that were players in the 'nataka' of recent years

While Scenarios 1, 2 and 3 are fine and clear, the worry lines on our brow lie in Scenario 4.

If that really happens, it is time for Déjà vu in Karnataka politics for the next 5 years. Time for more excitement and time for delayed governance and a complete lack of development on the agenda.

While I worry not for the first three Scenarios, the 4th needs to be handled well.

If that really does happen, I do believe there is a solution at hand.

My solution is a simple one.

Do not go in for coalition governments. Coalitions do not work. Karnataka needs either a government or a series of governments that work.

If this is to be achieved, there is only one way. Let the three parties sit together and draw out a Corporate-style Memorandum of Understanding with clear clauses on breach of contract and Act of God clauses alike.

Let each of the parties draw out a schedule to rule for 20 months each with no interference in governance from the other. 20 clear months of single party rule. Let each then put its heart and soul and manifesto into the administration of this state that desperately needs good governance.

At the end of these 60 months then, we will surely have a report card of performance. A report card we can take to the next polls, hopefully only in the May of 2013!

Harish Bijoor is a brand-expert and CEO, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc.