Cong smiles again in Karnataka

BANGALORE, APRIL 22: Like other states, Karnataka too looks at the Delhi drama from one angle above all: How will it affect the politics ...

BANGALORE, APRIL 22: Like other states, Karnataka too looks at the Delhi drama from one angle above all: How will it affect the politics of this State? No one will give you a definitive answer. But there is a wider smile on the faces of Congressmen.

Even before the freak vote in Parliament brought the BJP coalition to a sudden halt, Congressmen in Karnataka had started smiling. They had three reasons for this. First and foremost, the ruling group had apparently lost the will to rule. The war between Deve Gowda and J H Patel not only made a mockery of governance; it also brought the Janata Dal to a state of meaninglessness.

Secondly, Ramakrishna Hegde seemed so enamoured of Delhi that he was leaving Karnataka affairs to his minions. And as long as the minions kept rubbing one another on the wrong side, his Lok Shakti lost much of the ground.

Thirdly, the Congress had finally started giving the impression that it was serious about Karnataka.

If the situation looks too favourable for the Congress now, credit should be given to Deve Gowda, Patel and Hegde. They seem to be working sincerely for the Congress.

Hegde and company could have given the voter a choice this time 8212; may be no more than old wine in new bottle, but that is better than old wine in old bottle. The Hegde experiment with the BJP was something that appeared odd at the time, but it did seem to strike some chord somewhere. Hegde and the BJP and George Fernandes8217; Samata and J H Patel8217;s own brood may appear an odd menagerie again, but who knows the voter too might have been in a mood to experiment.

But Hegde has probably missed the bus already. By waiting too long, and by not doing anything to soften the blows dealt by Jeevaraj Alva, he has rendered himself ineffective for the moment.

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For all his procrastinations, Hegde continues to have a mass appeal no other leader of Karnataka has. But he has appeared to be in no hurry to build on that strength. Most other leaders are looking for a following. In this case, there is a following looking for the leader.

In this late hour, with Delhi politics in great turmoil and Karnataka already feeling the heat of elections, it is doubtful whether Hegde will be able to change tack and focus on the state in a way that would make a difference. If he doesn8217;t, then the way is clear for the old wine in the new Congress bottle.

The silver lining for the Congress is that S M Krishna has a clean image. He is experienced and carries no baggage with him. Such a man is important for the Congress. After Veerendra Patil, the Congress was saddled with Chief Ministers who did no good to the party or to the state.

Will Krishna be different? He has the qualities required to make a difference. The Congress machine will have to be oiled afresh to make this possible. Half the job will be to keep the burden of the past out of the way 8212; burdens like Bangarappa and Veerappa Moily. The assets of the party must come to the forefront 8212; like Malligarjun Kharge and H K Patil and K H Ranganath. The Congress always had the potential for good. The question now is whether Krishna will be able to bring out this potential, or whether he too will be overwhelmed by the evil perennially lurking in the Congress.