HVK Archives: The PM's party - Editorial
The PM's party - Editorial - Times of India
Posted By ashok (ashokvc@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in)
June 10th 1996
Title : The PM's party
Date : 10th June 1996
Publication : Times of India
Even as H.D. Deve Gowda was consulting astrologers
before
taking up residence in the national Capital, the
developments in his home town were far from propitious.
The antics of those who were deprived of what is deemed
to be the legitimate demand of all legislators -
ministership - in the new Karnataka Cabinet have once
again exposed the Janata Dal's inherent fragility. The
revolt may have died down, but the Prime Minister must
have realised that events in Banglore will continue to
demand his close attention notwithstanding his
preoccupation with matters of national concern, if only
because he is still regarded as a regional leader who has
made good. If his base seems unstable, he will not find
it easy to survive in the hothouse atmosphere of Delhi.
So, Deve Gowda will have to be on guard not only against
the possibility of the Congress pulling the rug from
under his feet, or joining the Government to upset the
current delicate balance within, but also of his own
party showing the familiar signs of falling apart. From
this standpoint, of all the parties in the United Front,
the JD remians the most prone to disintegration and there
by creating a crisis.
The danger comes as much from the nameless MLAs
of
Karnataka as from prime donnas such as Ramakrishna
Hegde
or Biju Patnaik. While the former has made no secret of
his unhappiness at his one-time protege's elevation, the
man who regards himself as the uncrowned king of
Kalinga
has suddenly realised that age has caught up with him and
that others are now setting the agenda even in his own
party. He may still be wise enough to adopt the posture
of an elder statesman, offering sane advice, but any
attempt to play an active political role can create
problems for the Prime Minister. Had Patnaik not been
hobbled by corruption charges, he might have done so. The
other prima donna is, of course, Laloo Prasad Yadav, and
Deve Gowda must be thankful that the JD's less than
impressive performance in Bihar has curbed the Chief
Minister's normal flamboyance style. But much depends
on
how the new Defence Minister's party fares in UP. If the
Samajwadi Party manages to do reasonably well,
tehreby
enhancing Mulayam Singh Yadav's stature, the Bihar
Chief
Minister is likely to become somewhat restive. Clearly,
the Prime Minister has a job on his hands, in more senses
than one.
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