All in the Family

The crisis in the Janata Dal Secular (JDS) has culminated in the expulsion of its State President Mr. C.M. Ibrahim and his replacement by H.D. Kumaraswamy, former chief minister and son of the party supremo H. D. Devegowda.

The developments had not been less than theatrical with Mr. Ibrahim claiming till the very last that he was not aware of the ongoings within the party even though a lay newsreader could see parleys between the JDS and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) racing for the climax of an alliance.

It is plain to see that the tie-up between the two parties is a marriage of convenience and is aimed at forging two distinct votebanks in the Cauvery basin in southern Karnataka for mutual benefit.

It lacks ideological cohesion as the parties follow diametrically opposite ideals. It is borne out of compulsion for the JDS which saw its fortune declining in the Assembly elections held last April.

However, it may fetch some benefits to the BJP which can see transfer of some chunk of Vokkaliga votes which it badly needs. Future is however uncertain. The JDS will have tough time haggling for Lok Sabha seats as they had won just a lone seat during the 2019 polls.

As for Ibrahim, the JDS takes him as spentforce now that the Muslims have jettisoned the party to mainly back the Congress as was evident from the Assembly elections.

The quick somersaults by JDS only confirm that the secular tag was merely a façade for the party.

Choice of HDK is reassertion that the party is averse to risking its future by passing on the mantle to someone beyond the immediate family.