After win, Cong should not dump regional parties: JD(S)

The Congress victory in the Assembly polls has created some discomfort in the JD(S) as the latter apprehends that the Congress may flex its muscles in the coalition government in Karnataka.

The JD(S), a minor partner, enjoyed ultimate power as the Congress gave unconditional support. However, it may not remain so for long, said a senior leader from JD(S).

The JD(S) feels that whenever Congress gets strong, it makes attempts to arm-twist its minor partner. “To prevent the BJP from coming to power, the Congress, which has 79 seats, ceded the chief ministership to the JD(S), having just 37 seats. Now, the Congress is upbeat,” said the leader.

It is no secret that all is not well in the coalition government. Many Congress leaders have criticised Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and the highhandedness of his brother, Public Works Minister H D Revanna. The Congress may assert its power in the government and demand more say in the administration, said the leader.

Already, the Congress had its say by getting its leader Pratap Chandra Shetty elected to the post of chairman of the Council. The grand old party may ask the chief minister to listen to its MLAs, before taking any decision and rein in Revanna.

However, JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda told DH that the victory of the Congress would not impact the coalition government. But, he struck a cautionary note, asking Congress to respect coalition dharma and stressed that it should not ignore regional parties.