Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Apr 17: Both Congress and JD(S), who are worried about the prospects of BJP making inroads into the constituencies that have been traditionally loyal to them, it is gathered, are almost certain to enter into internal electoral understanding to stop this from happening, said media reports. This might make the plans of BJP to romp home with ease by making use of split in votes between Congress and JD(S), harder to achieve.
BJP is the common enemy for both these parties. Although both Congress and JD(S) are at loggerheads over many issues, they are prepared to bury their hatchets to humble their common enemy. They seem to believe that enemy's enemy automatically becomes one's friend, and there are no permanent enemies in politics. At the same time, as per the current plans, there will not be any official pacts. The parties will be conducting exercises that are needed to crush BJP through internal measures, and all such activities will be conducted behind the scenes, reports stated.
Congress party is encouraged by the success of the plan as per which JD(S) desisted from fielding its candidates in Nanjangud and Gundlupet constituencies during recent bypolls, in spite of demands from its activists, with the tacit aim of favouring Congress party. These bypolls have brought Congress closer to JD(S), which was treated like a sworn enemy till recently, and the trust between the two has got strengthened. The party has taken up the suggestion to employ similar tactics during the assembly election being held next year, and got full support from the high command, which too wants to humble BJP.
In theory, this plan appears to work wonders because even a small change in the percentage of votes polled can heavily tilt the scales in favour of a particular party. Congress also wants to improve its relationship between Siddaramaiah and Deve Gowda, who were not seeing face to face in the past, and which was established during the discussions between the two dealers during Cauvery crisis, further. The Congress leadership at the centre wants to have truck with secular parties but is opposed to having any official alliance. It wants to retain its bastion, Karnataka, in the south intact.
As per the current plans, Congress will be giving 'friendly fight' to JD(S) in constituencies, particularly in Old Mysuru region, where the JD(S) has formidable support. JD(S) wants to retain 40 seats it had won last time in different districts, and in exchange thereof, plans to shift its voter base in favour of Congress in other constituencies. JD(S) might pressurize Congress to yield some more seats to it, depending upon the support it has from voters of individual constituencies.
It is felt that if Congress and JD(S are involved with direct fight, BJP will have it easy as secular votes get split. If they work to field candidates judiciously, Congress and JD(S) can make it harder for the BJP to get seats. JD(S), hopes to reap benefit from this understanding and bag enough seats to play a decisive role in next government formation.