The people of Karnataka are bewildered at the cynical power game being played out between the two coalition partners – the JD(S) and the BJP – over the so-called transfer of power.

After the collapse of the Dharam Singh government 20 months ago, these two parties, having nothing in common, came together to share power for the next 40 months. Though it was dubbed as an “illegitimate government,” people had come to accept it, hoping that they would be compensated with good governance.

The 79-member-strong BJP legislature party, desperate to come to power, agreed to make Mr H D Kumaraswamy the Chief Minister – though he commanded the support of only 39 MLAs – on the clear understanding that he would make way for Mr B S Yediyurappa of the BJP after 20 months.

It was an uneasy coalition at best and only the glue of power seemed to hold it together. Mr Kumaraswamy had repeatedly promised to honour his commitment and for the past few weeks, the whole administration seemed to come to a standstill, as the leaders of the two parties were obsessed with the issue of transfer of power.

It is clear on the D-Day – October 2, the day Mr Kumaraswamy should have resigned – that the JD(S) is in no mood to honour the pledge and wants the “agreement” to be renogotiated, perhaps even allowing Mr Kumaraswamy to continue as Chief Minister for some more time.

JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda’s reported stand that he would like to renegotiate the whole arrangement with the national leadership of BJP in the light of  the “impressive” performance of the JD(S) in the recent local bodies’ elections, is illogical and completely extraneous to the issue of transfer of power.

The BJP has every reason to feel aggrieved and cannot be faulted for refusing to hold negotiations with Mr Gowda. Mr Kumaraswamy, who had endeared himself to some sections of people with his apparent simplicity, is in danger losing that goodwill by hanging on to power.

He has accused the BJP of being in “undue haste” and showing “hunger for power,” little realising that it is he who has betrayed that hunger. With the BJP ministers now tendering their resignations en masse, Mr Kumaraswamy has little option but to resign.

With the breakdown of the coalition, Karnataka may be heading for a spell of President’s rule and fresh elections to the Assembly, which appears to be the only honourable way out in the present circumstances.