BENGALURU: The BJP has missed several self-imposed deadlines to bring down the JD(S)-Congress government, but that doesn’t seem to be a dampener to their efforts. BJP leaders still claim they will succeed in their mission in toppling the HD Kumaraswamy-led coalition government “very soon”.

TOI spoke to some senior BJP leaders to find out why they are so optimistic.

Anti-Lingayat and anti-North

image

Some MLAs in Congress are worried over the anti-Lingayat and anti-north Karnataka image that the JD(S)-Congress government has earned. Although Kumarswamy has attempted to make amends by announcing Belagavi as the second capital and making Suvarna Vidhan Soudha fully functional, it has remained only on paper. Fearing that this could hurt their political prospects, some MLAs, especially those representing Lingayat-dominant constituencies are feeling unsecure and are reportedly in talks with BJP leaders.

Interference of Gowda family

Some Congress ministers and MLAs are angry over the control exerted by the Deve Gowda family and are upset by too much “interference” of PWD minister H D Revanna in other departments. Many transfers and postings — of district health officers, subregistrars and tahsildars have been reportedly effected without the consent of local MLAs and ministers concerned. To make matters worse, the Congress high command has ignored repeated complaints on this issue.

Lure of ministerial berth, cash

Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy’s allegation that BJP leaders are conspiring to bring down his government with the help of lottery and gambling kingpins does ring true. It has become part of the political culture in Karnataka that even first-time MLAs want positions. They can’t wait for power. While some senior leaders are bargaining for power to safeguard their fiefdom, the juniors are desperate to make a quick buck or two. Sources say about a dozen Congress MLAs figure in this list.

Rebellion in Congress

BJP leaders believe the shadow boxing between the Jarkiholi brothers and D K Shivakumar will explode someday and help their mission to dislodge the government. The discontent brewing between former CM

and Hosakote MLA MTB Nagaraj is also helping their cause. BJP leaders, however, privately admit that a combination of all these factors will only make their task of ousting the Kumaraswamy government a success, which they hope will happen soon.