Karnataka Congress rebels: What's next?

Bengaluru: There is confusion galore over the next move of Congress leaders like former ministers Mr M.H. Ambarish, Mr Satish Jarkiholi, Mr C.M. Ibrahim and others, who are cut up with Chief Minister Mr Siddaramaiah as well as the Congress party.

There are reports doing the rounds that they might join hands with JD(S) but Mr Deve Gowda’s party is actually letting the situation develop ‘slow and steady.’  However, the group of seven MLAs who were suspended from the JD(S) for cross-voting during recent polls, seems to be interested in forging an alliance with the Congress rebels.

At the moment, Mr Srinivas Prasad, who resigned from Congress as well as his MLA seat, seems to be keen on contesting the by-election from Nanjangud. In all probability, he will be contesting as an independent with the JD(S) not likely to field its  candidate. In the last election, JD(S) had polled 41,000 votes and lost to Congress by a margin of a little over 9,000 votes in Nanjangud.

The other names cropping up along with Mr Ambarish and Jarkiholi include Mr Baburao Chinchansur, Mr Quamar-ul-Islam and Mr Malakaiah Guttedar. It is said that Mr Jarkiholi has held one round of talks with Mr Gowda over his next move and is maintaining a low profile currently.

Sources in JD(S) said that Mr Deve Gowda is  in no hurry to woo all the rebels to his party. Even during the tenure of the last Assembly, when BJP was in power, JD(S) did not contest many by-elections towards the end of the tenure. It not only drains away the party’s funds but also gives scope for political convulsions within the party.

It would be better for JD(S) to back Mr Prasad as an independent than get him into the party and allow the government machinery to run down his opponents, feel JD(S) leaders who know It will be show of strength between  Prasad and Siddaramaiah in the bypoll.

In the case of other rebels too, the party has decided to wait and watch. With the Assembly election only 18 months away, neither Mr Jarkiholi, nor Mr Ambarish are interested in facing a by-election. Mr Ibrahim’s term as State Planning Board Chairman  would be cut short if he quits the Congress now. The real political polarisation would begin only during the last six months, said sources.