JDS-Congress coalition in Karnataka survives yet another threat

The BJP’s attempts to dethrone the Congress-JD(S)coalition in Karnataka has failed yet again with the passing of the state budget.

Contrary to expectations of a twist in the tale during voting on the budget, the ruling benches managed to safely see through the passage of the finance bill. The bill was taken up for voting a day earlier than scheduled and the house was adjourned sine die on February 14 itself.

The opposition BJP’s attempts to destabilise the ruling coalition lost steam after the expose of an audio tape purportedly of its state chief BS Yeddyurappa offering inducements to JD(S) legislator Sharana Gowda to move out of his party.

An embarrassed BJP national leadership reprimanded the state unit and reportedly asked it to call off the moves to unseat the coalition. With general elections a couple of months away, the party has been cautious in its attempts to destabilise the coalition as it did not want to be blamed for the fall of the government. This was because of the fear that it could be used against the BJP in the election campaign and open it to accusations of political immorality.

For the BJP, this was possibly the last chance to unseat the coalition government before the elections. For the Congress-JD(S) alliance, the fact that it has managed to survive another attempt is a morale-booster which it will hope to capitalise in the run-up to the elections.

Since the May 2018 elections, when the Congress sprung a surprise on the BJP (which fell short of a majority by nine seats) by aligning with the JD(S), the ruling coalition in Karnataka has all but been under a siege with the opposition trying to lure legislators out of the coalition.