Dumped by Hegde, Vedike men vie for Cong shelter

Bangalore, Dec 17: Lok Shakti's founder Ramakrishna Hegde's apparent neglect of the party's state unit is said to be the provocation for ...

Bangalore, Dec 17: Lok Shakti’s founder Ramakrishna Hegde’s apparent neglect of the party’s state unit is said to be the provocation for the drama all set to unfold in Karnataka’s political horizon in the days to come.

Party’s apolitical outfit, Rashtriya Navanirmana Vedike, floated mainly to shelter rebel Janata Dal (JD) legislators and to protect them from action under Anti-Defection Law, is likely to witness a bout of exodus. The suspicion that its national president R V Deshpande is all set to join the Congress no longer remains a rumour.

Hegde, after joining the Vajpayee Government at New Delhi entrusted the Vedike and his political party — Lok Shakti — to Jeevraj Alva, his Man Friday. Many rebel JD legislators led by Deshpande who sacrificed their positions in the J H Patel Government to strengthen the hands of Hegde, now feel left out. Most of them do not feel comfortable with Alva, and many times they have openly criticised Alva’s style of functioning.

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With Hegde busy in Delhi, having no timeto lend his ear to the woes of these disgruntled JD legislators, the Vedike has become defunct and the Lok Shakti is under the control of Alva. While the Janata Dal is fast losing popularity among the public mainly attributed to its non-performance, the BJP too has lost ground especially after its poor performance in the recent Assembly elections. The Congress seems to be the only choice for such politicians who would always like to be in power.

Though reports of rebel JD leaders attempting to join Congress has disturbed the peace among the state Congress leaders, the AICC top brass appears to be encouraging such a move. Close on the heels of Sonia Gandhi calling on former prime minister H D Deve Gowda which created a flutter in the rank and file of the Congress party in Karnataka, the news of Deshpande calling on Sonia has led to fresh revolt by a section of leaders in the state. The meeting between Deshpande and Sonia is said to have been arranged by former minister Margaret Alva.

Sources said thatDeshpande is understood to have promised Sonia that he would pull out some more credible JD legislators. Deshpande is now on the job to prepare a smooth ground for their entry. Deshpande and company may not be in a position to join the Congress now as he continues to be a JD MLA. He is preparing ground for joining the Congress before the Assembly elections to be held in another 10 months.

According to a JD legislator close to Deshpande, he might even float another forum to elicit support of disgruntled JD legislators and either merge that with the Congress or have an understanding with Congress at the time of elections.

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Meanwhile, there seems to be a lull in the JD and the situation is likely to surcharge in the last week of December when party national president Sharad Yadav would have held talks with senior state leaders including Gowda and Bommai as promised by him, to resolve the impasse in the party.

Whatever may be the outcome on the state leadership issue, Sharad Yadav’s decision is bound togenerate reactions. Possibility of leadership change at the moment seem to be remote keeping in view the JD’s dismal performance in the recent polls.

Top JD leaders from the state are in favour of resolving the crisis this year itself so that the remaining 10-odd months before the elections are devoted to strengthening, and refurbishing the party image.