Cong rebels lobby for plum posts in Karnataka

The rebellion and protests that erupted in the Congress after the expansion of the coalition ministry in Karnataka should be seen as another way of lobbying—more serious and damaging than any—by the leaders who have been left out. The Congress kept six from its allocated share of Cabinet berths unfilled anticipating trouble and probably to accommodate those with the maximum potential to damage the party and the government. But it has given those ignored a hope that they can also be ministers if they succeed in making the party realise their destructive potential.

While the lobbying that went on in the run-up to the Cabinet expansion and the dissidence that blew up once the process was over underline the politicians’ inherent greed for power and position, the current situation can be partly attributed to the circumstances under which the JD(S)-Congress coalition was installed. When the support of every MLA is crucial for the government’s survival, it was but natural that all started seeing themselves as potential ministers. That also played a role in the selection of ministers with some making it to the Cabinet merely because of the possibility of them switching sides.

The rebellion also underlined another fact—that while the parties managed to keep their flocks together in the face of determined wooing by the BJP, they probably failed to impress upon MLAs the need of ensuring the government’s survival and the sacrifices they may have to make. What’s also fuelling the dissidence is the fact that there are also posts in many government-run corporations and boards which will be used to accommodate disgruntled leaders.

Then there is the post of state Congress president. Former minister M B Patil, said to be rallying together unhappy leaders, is a contender. The Congress will do well to not allow dissidence to fester if it wants the government to survive and do its job. One thing it can do is fill up the vacancies at the earliest and send a message that it will not make further compromises and put up with rebellion.