Writing on the wall was read all wrong

8216;8216;Let people see who is voting for whom, who is supporting the communal BJP to seize power,8217;8217; said Ambika Soni, party General Secretary.

But the Congress could hardly have imagined this would happen, when the alliance with JDS was forged in May 2004. The assumption then, that the JDS, looking to strengthen its secular credentials for survival, cannot ally with the BJP, has fallen flat. And now, despite Gowda8217;s protestation that he was against his son shifting allegiance, Congress believes the former PM was partner to the drama. 8216;8216;We delivered what we promised. But Gowda did not,8217;8217; said Soni. Before the crisis was precipitated, Gowda had started hobnobbing with BJP leaders, but Congress leaders were sure it was a bargaining tactic. 8216;8216;It perhaps was, and the crisis could have been averted had the party responded early,8217;8217; says a state Congress leader.

Even after that, the party took Gowda lightly. He was in Delhi on January 19, but no Congress leader met him. Inputs on the impending crisis by two rival factions in the state Congress, led to the same reaction from Delhi, take it easy. One faction, headed by D K Shivkumar has been pushing for snapping all relations with Gowda 8212; and calling fresh polls.

Even Dharam Singh is believed to have told the high command that Gowda could be brought around. 8216;8216;To intervene late was a decision taken after due consideration,8217;8217; a leader said.

Two days prior to the confidence motion, Gowda met Sonia Gandhi, but details of a new power-sharing arrangement did not crop up, sources said. She promised to be more accommodative of his concerns and pressed Pranab Mukherjee into service, alongside the low-profile Antony.

A day later, Mukherjee spoke to Gowda and conceded virtually all demands8212;barring that of the CM8217;s post, sources said. It was at this stage that Gowda promised to convince his men.

Congress sources said nearly half of the 47 MLAs who went with Kumaraswamy were willing to return. But Kumaraswamy wanted no negotiations, apparently having been told by his astrologer that it was now or never for his CM dreams. Gowda called his MLAs for a meeting again but nobody turned up. 8216;8216;JDS MLAs will crawl if Gowda asks them to,8217;8217; said a Congress minister.

Talks between brothers fail

Bangalore: JDS chief H D Deve Gowda made several attempts to change the decision of his son Kumaraswamy and his supporters, who were adamant and did not meet him. Gowda8217;s another son and PWD Minister H D Revanna was sent to arrange meeting between Gowda and Kumaraswamy. By Friday afternoon, the JDS legislators received a letter of Gowda stating that the decision was hasty as the BJP was against JDS ideology. Gowda assured the MLAs of rectifying mistakes. Revanna tried to convince Kumaraswamy for over half-an-hour to have another round of talks with their father. 8212; ENS