Kumaraswamy refuses to work for Modi voters – a sign of frustrated, undemocratic opposition?

Illustration by Soham Sen | ThePrint Team

Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy lost his cool on a group of protesting workers in Raichur demanding jobs. “Should I order police to lathi-charge? You vote for (Narendra) Modi and then come to me to get your work done,” the CM told protesters blocking his way. The BJP termed it as the “height of arrogance”, and demanded Kumaraswamy’s resignation.

ThePrint asks: Kumaraswamy refuses to work for Modi voters – a sign of frustrated, undemocratic opposition?

Kumaraswamy would not have lost his cool if he wasn’t unnecessarily provoked by protesters

Y.S.V. Datta
Leader, JDS 

In politics, one needs to handle issues tactfully and with patience. H.D. Kumaraswamy has been under tremendous coalition pressure. His outburst can be interpreted as a retaliation to a provocation and nothing else. He would not have lost his cool if he was not unnecessarily provoked by the group who stopped him in Raichur.

You cannot call it frustration, but there is definitely pressure on him, although he is capable of controlling the situation. This is one reason why you see him trying to communicate to the people that he has worked hard for them, but they have not reciprocated accordingly.

The chief minister has launched his ‘Grama Vastavya’ (village stay) programme to interact with people, understand their difficulties and if possible find solutions too. But the way the protesters stopped him, not allowing him to move when he was there only to address their problems, showed how they could have been politically motivated.

Also, the protest could have been carried out in a more democratic manner, instead of surrounding him and stopping his vehicle. After all, he is the chief minister of the state.

Kumaraswamy is unable to digest the loss in Lok Sabha polls and is shouting at people who question him

S. Prakash
Spokesperson, Karnataka BJP 

The results of 2019 Lok Sabha election have seriously impacted H.D. Kumaraswamy. The defeats of his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy (from Mandya) and father H.D. Deve Gowda (from Tumkur) caused a huge setback to the Karnataka chief minister. Now, he seems to be losing his patience and shouting at people at the drop of a hat, especially those who question him.

It was Kumaraswamy’s choice to go to the villages. He should be prepared to hear people out, listen to their woes and accept their memorandums. He should have the patience to listen to all of them all. He is not the Kumaraswamy whom people had supported back in 2006. He is crumbling under pressure of the JD(S)-Congress coalition compulsions and the demands of the legislators. He is unable to digest his party’s loss in the Lok Sabha election.

The BJP has been a responsible opposition, questioning him on issues of governance, the Jindal Steel Works (JSW) land acquisition matter, and sought answers from him on the loan waiver scheme that he had proudly spoken about. Kumaraswamy is in a fix and unable to come up with satisfactory answers. We will continue to put pressure as our voters have the right to know.

BJP MPs who have done nothing except make controversial statements have been voted in

Dinesh Gundurao
Karnataka Congress president

Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy through his Grama Vastavya programme has been travelling to various places to hear what people have to say. If people gherao him like this and not approach in a proper manner, then it could lead to such scenarios. There has to be a proper way. The protesters could have submitted a petition to Kumaraswamy. But there were BJP supporters who blocked the road and tried to create disturbance.

I feel what Kumaraswamy said was correct. Those protesting are only trying to grab headlines.

Most BJP MPs who got elected never visited their constituencies or aired people’s issues in Parliament. Compare them with Congress MPs who worked so hard and yet faced defeat in the 2019 elections. So, when Kumaraswamy says that the party does all the hard work in Karnataka but people instead choose Modi, then the CM is right. We saw how those who worked were defeated, but the BJP MPs who have done nothing except make controversial statements have been voted in. There is a sense of disappointment and that is what Kumaraswamy has been spoken about.

Clearly, it is time the electorate too, and not just political leaders, take a look at the developments in the state and do some introspection.

Gowda clan has company when it comes to dynasts expecting unwavering loyalty from voters

Prithvi Datta Chandra Shobhi
Social historian and professor, Krea University

H.D. Kumaraswamy’s petulant remarks to a group of protesting workers at Yeramarus Thermal Power Plant and Hutti Gold Mines isn’t new or unexpected. Just two days ago, his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy had sarcastically told the media in Mandya, the constituency from where he lost the Lok Sabha elections, that his victorious opponent Sumalatha would solve the Cauvery dispute, as she has close ties to the BJP. Even at a media event to declare that he would maintain a permanent residence in Mandya, Nikhil wanted to settle scores not just with his opponent but with his voters. Kumaraswamy’s ministers too have made similar remarks in recent weeks.

The Deve Gowda clan is known for demanding unconditional loyalty from JD(S) leaders, party activists and even voters. Several leaders like Siddaramaiah left the Janata Parivar primarily because they were expected to suppress their own political ambitions, and allow Deve Gowda (and his family members) to reign supreme. Deve Gowda’s public speeches and private conversations are often laced with stories on how he has been betrayed by everybody, from leaders he promoted to voters whose interests he tried to protect throughout his political career.

Demanding political loyalty in such an absolute and unconditional manner is surely undemocratic. Note, however, that this has also become a feature of our political culture across India, especially with respect to regional parties, which are controlled by a charismatic leader and his/her family. The Gowda clan has plenty of company.

By Rohini Swamy and Fatima Khan.