God promise

Karnatakas politics touched a new and incredible low after JDS leader H.D. Kumaraswamy claimed that Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa privately offered him hush money and political favours if he went easy on the anti-corruption campaign that has battered Yeddyurappa and his family in recent months. BSY splashed advertisements in newspapers and openly challenged Kumaraswamy to a face-off of faith at the Dharmasthala temple,where both of them could take an oath in front of Lord Manjunatha Swamy. Yeddyurappa has also been accused of facilitating land deals that benefit his family,and income-tax evasion to the tune of Rs 340 crore.

After much bombast on both sides,it turns out that this showdown may not actually take place,as the temples overseers expressed their discomfort with political battles being fought on the temples floors. Others have questioned the idea of irrelevantly invoking gods in questions that demand a rigorous investigation,because these leaders are elected by Karnataka citizens,not installed by divine will. This is not the first time that supernatural forces have intervened in Karnataka politics Yeddyurappa has earlier accused H.D. Deve Gowda and his family of using black magic to hurt him a charge that exposed him to wide ridicule and almost led to his resignation.

Karnataka is the BJPs biggest moral liability,a state whose mismanagement has made it impossible for the national opposition to credibly talk about corruption or legislative propriety,crony capitalism,or resource allocation. Now,serious and consequential questions about the chief ministers probity have been reduced to this farce,one that should offend both the religious and the godless others who equally believe in accountable governance.