Allaying fears about the perceived instability of the coalition government after the Lok Sabha election, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday tried to convince party legislators and leaders that the poll outcome, whether positive or negative, would not affect the stability of the coalition government.
Addressing the first meeting of Janata Dal (Secular) legislators and leaders after the polls, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the government is stable and legislators should not fall prey to false propaganda of the Opposition BJP on the perceived threat to the government.
He said the Congress high command was watching the situation closely and taking all necessary steps to stem discontentment by employing every trick in its hat. AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka K.C. Venugopal and others were also in touch with the party’s national president H.D. Deve Gowda, he said.
According to sources privy to the meeting, Mr. Kumaraswamy, who elicited information from the party legislators and leaders about their coordination with the Congress in the Lok Sabha polls, said that despite initial problems, the coordination between workers and leaders of both parties at the grassroots was satisfactory and would yield expected results.
He is also learnt to have told the legislators not to fall prey to the bait of BJP under any circumstance, as they would be suitably rewarded both in the organisation and the government after May 23.
On the apprehensions expressed by a few legislators on the impact of the reported rebellion of former Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi and others, Mr. Kumaraswamy said they need not worry about it as he was in touch Mr. Jarkiholi and other disgruntled leaders of the Congress, who are threatening the government.
He said that besides attempts by the Congress leaders to assuage the feelings of Mr. Jarkiholi, he had also held several rounds of talks with him and other legislators from Ballari. Mr. Jarkiholi and others had promised him of not rocking the coalition government despite their discontentment, he claimed.
Sources in the JD(S) said that the meeting attended by Mr. Deve Gowda and candidate for Mandya K. Nikhil, discussed the political situation following the brewing discontentment among some of the Congress legislators.
MLAs, Lok Sabha members, members of the Legislative Council, and other senior leaders attended the meeting. The party’s State president A.H. Vishwanath could not attend the meeting because of the demise of a party leader in his constituency.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gowda explained the plans of strengthening the party at the grassroots level in the first week of June. The idea is to strengthen the party at the division-level this time and make local legislators accountable for the problem created in divisions, including Belagavi, Mangaluru, Mysuru, and Kalaburagi, he said.