BJP

Congress

Amit Shah

Siddaramaiah

Theis said to be trying to divide the, JD(S) MLAs on community lines.The natak in Karnataka is not over. In fact, it has got more farcical.The BJP, which believes that it still has a chance to ensure that the Congress-JD(S) combine is not able to form the government, is desperately trying to create fault lines among the elected MLAs of the rival camp by playing the community card of Lingayats and tribals.BJP presidenthas not given up hope and strongly believes that the BJP has the strategy to shock the Congress. While the Congress-JD(S) have decided that HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) would be the chief minister and the name of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Chief G Parameshwara, a Dalit, is doing the rounds for the deputy chief minister's post, the BJP has planted the theory that the deputy chief minister should be a Lingayat.The highest number of elected Congress MLAs belong to Lingayat community. Also, while there are 16 Lingayat Congress MLAs, Vokkaligas account for 11. Kumaraswamy is a Vokkaliga. There is also a buzz for greater Muslim representation in the Cabinet with the seven Congress Muslim MLAs demanding that they get plum ministerial berths.A top BJP leader told Mirror, "Just because our CM Yeddyurappa had to resign, it is not over. The game in Karnataka has just begun. And this game will shape national politics".BJP national president Amit Shah said, "The public mandate is not with the Congress. The attempts that these anti-public parties have indulged in to stop the BJP from forming the government will eventually backfire because it does not have public support."The Congress, fearing that the BJP may succeed in its design to stall their government formation, has begun its damage control. Led by Ghulam Nabi Azad, leaders like DK Shivakumar and former chief ministerare counselling MLAs so that they do not fall prey to the BJP plot. The Congress high command believes that Karnataka is the best place to prove that Shah and his so-called Chanakya politics is a flop in south India.Kumaraswamy said, "Yes, the BJP is up to some game but I am confident that we will win the trust motion and form the government." He, however, refused to comment on the constitution of the ministry but did admit that there was a pressure that either there are two deputy chief ministers or a Lingayat be made a deputy chief minister.