The time is opportune to review the style of functioning of a government that has completed two years in office. How far is the BJP government in the state eligible to celebrate its second anniversary after it came to power on its own for the first time by a hair’s breadth majority ?
If one takes a look at the marks sheet of the achievements of the government, there is not even a single instance that can prove that the government has been different from the rest and has strived to better the living conditions of the people. If one goes by the publicity campaign launched by the government in the media, one has to conclude that there was not much gap between the earth and the heaven.
Those who have held the posts of judges and some independent observers in the media have already said that the Sangh Parivar men were flourishing during the BJP government tenure. The fact that government lands and government contracts were easily available to the Sangh Parivar men, makes it evident that the government is functioning merely to empower the Sangh Parivar. If one has to construe that this itself is development, then one can say there has been sufficient development as told by Yeddyurappa.
The BJP government which was embroiled in several controversies and even struggled to retain its existence, is somewhat heaving a sigh of relief as of now. The only aspect that saved the government from all these controversies, is Yeddyurappa’s policy of being ready to do anything to save the government at any cost. The way the CM acted by going against the confidence reposed on him by the electorate, when the Reddy’s challenged his leadership, is something that has raised many an eyebrow.
Yeddyurappa who could survive two years in the CM’s chair must thank his luck. He has survived two attempts on the life of his government and is presently in a position that is quite favourable. In fact, the Congress and the Janata Dal (S) which are in a position to noose the government; by maintaining silence and by failing to discharge their duties as good opposition parties, have provided a cushion to Yeddyurappa. Yeddyurappa had in fact faced much problems from the rival camp within his own party rather then the opposition parties.
Some of the issues that posed a greater challenge to the government including the Sampangi case, minister Goolihatti case, Renukacharya sex scandal, Udupi MLA’s wife murder case, the furore created by the mining lords and now the latest Halappa sex scandal, have cooled down on their own thanks to the inaction of the opposition parties. It is a different matter that the government’s efforts to tide over all the problems, has in fact taken a toll on the development.
Yet another achievement of the Yeddyurappa government was of converting politics into a pure and simple business. Money power reigned supreme under the BJP rule more than under the rule of any other government. The credit of introducing the dirty ‘Operation Lotus’ certainly goes to this party with a difference.
Yeddyurappa should be thanking his fortune for his party giving better shows in the several elections ( Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, MLC, KMF, APMC and BBMP) that followed the assembly elections, despite the party failing to provide necessary basic amenities like uninterrupted power, water supply, good roads and ensuring law and order.
The ZP and TP elections too are to be held in September and the government has so far spent much of its energy and power in facing the various elections. The government is unlikely to divert attention towards development until the ZP elections are over.
The BJP government which rose to power two years ago banking on a sympathy wave and a bountiful of ‘unavailable elsewhere’ assurances, has certainly disillusioned the people through its style of functioning. At the same time, the apathetic attitude of the Congress and the JD(S) parties have turned to be a boon to the BJP.
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