After Kumaraswamy relents in Delhi, BJP-JD(S) protest march to Mysore is back on track tomorrow

The reversal of the JD(S) decision to boycott the protest – the BJP central leadership is insistent upon it – comes in the wake of parleys in Delhi between BJP leaders, including Karnataka in-charge Radha Mohan Das Agarwal and Union minister Pralhad Joshi, and Kumaraswamy.

The BJP and JD(S) are carrying out the protest to seek the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has been accused of playing a role in housing site allotments to his wife Parvathi by the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) in compensation for land it acquired.

The Congress has decided to dig its heels over the issue and has accused the BJP government at the Centre of attempting to destabilise the democratically elected Karnataka government despite the lack of evidence to suggest illegalities in the land allotments.

The Congress has also accused the BJP of using the office of the governor of Karnataka in an attempt to destabilise the government after Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot issued a notice to the government asking why sanction to file a case against the CM should not be provided to a private activist.

The protest march looked in danger of being a non-starter earlier this week after Kumaraswamy, a Union minister in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, questioned its purpose in an issue that should be fought legally.

The JD(S), however, indicated on Friday through its poster that talks held with Kumaraswamy had led to a change of heart. “A massive march will be launched against the Congress government which is looting the state through a series of scams. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has illegally acquired sites in MUDA and embezzled crores of rupees and also has swallowed money in all government departments including the Valmiki corporation,” the poster stated.

“The Janata Dal Secular and BJP Karnataka are jointly conducting a huge padayatra to raise public awareness against the misrule of this highly corrupt Congress government. Thousands should join the ‘Mysore Chalo’ walk from Bangalore to Mysore,” the poster added.

On Thursday, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra had indicated that Kumaraswamy had provided a nod for the JD(S) to be on board for the BJP’s proposed padayatra, setting to rest speculation that the protest march would be shelved due to differences of opinion.

“A meeting was held in New Delhi with the state in-charge, Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, Union Minister and senior leader Pralhad Joshi, and JD(S) state president and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy ji. We engaged in a confident discussion on ensuring the successful completion of the Mysore Chalo padayatra,” the BJP state chief said after the meeting.

“This people’s movement will be a step toward bringing an end to the corrupt governance of the Congress in our state. We are resolute in our commitment to continue this fight until justice is delivered,” Vijayendra said.

“A meeting was held with Kumaraswamy and the confusion was resolved. As scheduled, the march will be held under the leadership of both parties, that is, under the leadership of the NDA. Leaders and workers of both parties will participate,” the BJP said in a statement.

“All BJP leaders, including central ministers, members of Parliament, MLAs/MLCs, party functionaries and workers must participate in huge numbers,” Agarwal said in response to the call for the protest.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kumaraswamy had displayed a disinclination to take part in the march by citing the flood situation in Karnataka and perceived insults caused during meetings for planning the protest.

“In the region between Bengaluru and Mysuru is where we (the JDS) are strong. In this situation if they do not take us into confidence in a proper manner then why should we support (the protest march)? Politics is different and the alliance during polls is different,” Kumaraswamy had said, withdrawing support for the protest march.

“In the current situation, what will we achieve with the protest march? This matter has hurt me personally as well. The way they have conducted themselves has caused hurt,” he said.

There is speculation that the JD(S) may have struck a bargain to project Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil as a leader during the protest march alongside the BJP leaders to build political traction for him in the Vokkaliga heartland.

“They said earlier that the protest should not be held due to the flooding in many parts of Karnataka. The change of mind indicates that the JD(S) is not acting in its own interest but as per the will of its alliance partners,” Siddaramaiah said on Friday.