There is no such thing as guilt in politics

"The thing about democracy, beloveds, is that it is not neat, orderly, or quiet. It requires a certain relish for confusion."-Molly Ivins (here)

"In, out. In, Out." But not quite like how Stanley Kubrik's protagonist in 'A Clockwork Orange' meant it. Still, the desperation shown by the ex-coalition partner of the JDS-led government of Karnataka, BJP, following 'betrayal' from JDS in mid-term is equally vulgar and irritating.

That it did not even pay off - couldn't have expected it to, knowing Gowda Sr.'s long term 'vision' for HDK's political career- was a bigger showdown in the form a un-dream-like seven-day stint of hurried announcements and juvenile excitement following a lifelong pursuit of CM-ship for Yedi; and a regional win for BJP. The BJP high-command concurs that Yedi's was a puerile I-wanna-be-CM display and has publicly accepted that local BJP ownership showed how desperate it had gotten to get the ruling post and in the process lost it all. Isn't it a simple truth that what is easily got is easily lost? After once refusing support, JDS's internal differences (a farce? But a spun-off party by HDK seems to be on the cards. It may be about damage control, it may be genuine. Only time will tell.) led to a sudden rush of support from JDS to BJP, lest public be turned against JDS's untrustworthiness. There is is nothing like guilt in politics, you know? And then came the withdrawal of support when the floor strength was to be tested. But not all hope is lost for BJP. In a wave of sympathy , a mid-term poll is bound to turn tables in BJP's favour.

But for now, the people have been failed. 41 months, 2 broken alliances, 3 turns of governments and lot of development work delayed or (will be) undone. Not the least, is the beating the image of 'IT State' of India has taken.Business relies on political stability and infrastructural growth. Bangalore's NICE and Peripheral Roads, Bangalore-Mangalore train and roads, approach highway to Bangalore's international airport, and a-pothole-for-every-star-in-the-sky waiting seeking attention, the list of things endlessly waiting is endless.

People get the government they deserve. The current jugglery may just be the best lesson for Karnatakans to remember everytime they punch the touch-buttons on voting machines; a lesson they ought not forget, as mid-term polls have been beckoned. The urban population, especially those in IT dominant cities of Mysore, upcoming-Hubli-Dharwad and, definitely, Bangalore have been for long fed up of Sr.Gowda's anti-development antics. It had far exceeded the limits set for devil's advocates who are an essential part of the democratic set-up. Hopefully, all that communication and media penetration in the state would have enabled the semi-urban and rural population into tracking the (un)developments closely and would elicit wise voting choices from them. By now, they ought to know that those who 'betray twice' would be predictable at doing so in future.

A fractured verdict from the state clearly shows that, collectively, everyone thinks that no single party is good enough for the job. JDS, on the dint of its 70 odd assembly seats got the room for arm-twisting its coalition partner BJP. With HDK at the helm and an as-of-then unknown elder son Revanna on the sides, it has been a cannon ball run for the Mannina Magaa, who has been piggybacking on HDK's young-and-progressive-CM image but in the process also frustrated the ex-ex-CM, HDK himself, with his capers.

While it is fair to protect one's progeny's political interests (JDS has been miffed at the criminal charges on HDK made by BJP MLAs when the latter was a sleeping partner and therefore Sr Gowda saw long term risk to Jr's political career in handing power to 'an accusing party'), it is a mockery of public opinion to try and turn a power-sharing arrangement into a puppet show. JDS wants to keep its coalition partner in charge of all but the lucrative ministerial positions for 'all well known reasons' as ex-CM (a circumstantial title accruing from a 'woh sath din' stint at the helm) Yedi has proclaimed to the media. This was a part of the 12 point charter drafted by Gowda Sr. About 20% of Karnataka gave the verdict in BJP's favour in the last election. Is there no regard for that? Why do such charters pop-up 21 months into a ruling term?

The last 45 days in Karnataka have seen drama worthy of an Emmy nomination. Many a dinner has been spent dissecting the convolutions lent out to us by those presiding over Vidhana Soudha. There have been allegations that trunkfuls of money have changed hands and it is known that several resorts have hosted MLAs in forced isolation.Probably, the game goes like- Get them drunk hard. By the time they recover, it would too late or they just wouldn't mind. Horses don't have minds, you see!

Signing off with the hope that people will get the government they deserve! Because, as Aesop quotes, "We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office."