13 days of non-governance, people in punishing mood
Hemanth Kumar. Bangalore
The 13-day political crisis in the state is showing no signs of ending. With the chief minister busy in retaining his own turf and MLAs ensconsed in the comforts of luxury resorts, people of the state are fuming, with sparks of angst already beginning to fly.
More than 200 youth staged a procession and burnt effigies of rebel leaders Karunakara Reddy and Janardhana Reddy near Jyotipura in Bangalore Rural district. "It's time we end the dominance of money in politics and framed rules to ensure no individual with money power can hold the state or a nation for political ransom," said Vijay Kumar, who led the protest.
Similar protests are springing up across the state, with people coming out strongly against the leaders responsible for the crisis.
The Vigilant Citizens of Sagar taluk in Shimoga district went a step ahead and filed a complaint with the police requesting them to trace their MLA Beluru Gopalakrishna who is now holidaying in a private hotel in Hyderabad as part of the group supporting the Reddys.
The youth of Davangere staged a novel protest, collecting liquor bottles, bangles, slippers, chicken and donations in coins as 'relief aid' for the MLAs who are away in a luxury hotel, when over two crore people affected by the floods are living on streets without food and water.
Such novel protests are turning into a daily affair, especially in the flood-affected districts. While the MLAs are awaiting a solution for the crisis, Yeddyurappa is seeing his authority being eroded by the day in his bargain with the Reddys in Delhi.
The fissures within the party high command with senior patriarch Vajpayee almost vanishing from active politics, LK Advani on his way out and national president Rajnath Singh lacking real authority to wield the whip, the crisis is prolonging without any signs of a healthy end.
"It is a tragedy for Karnataka that those in power are engaged in a bargain for power, when the state is crying for governance and quick aid for the flood-hit. The state people will teach them a sound lesson in the next elections," feels Rajiv Gowda, IIMB professor and political analyst.
k_hemanth@dnaindia.net