JD-S, BJP dilemma over anti-Congress front in Karnataka

After all, Kumaraswamy had done it in 2006 by leading a group of JD-S legislators to join hands with the BJP to form a government with himself as chief minister.



Kumaraswamy is not averse to openly aligning with the BJP but his father remains reluctant, at least publicly, as he feels he will be dumped by "secular" and Left parties and his chances of playing a role again at the national level will be blocked.

While the father and son sort out their differences, the BJP's state leaders are also not united on going with the JD-S.

One section of the leadership wants the party to join hands with the JD-S only if it publicly acknowledges this. The other is willing to go along even if the JD-S does not officially acknowledge the arrangement.

A section in the JD-S, including Deve Gowda, fears that the votes of the minority community might slip away if the tie-up with the BJP is publicly acknowledged.

Given the strong desire to beat the Congress, the two parties may however paper over their so-called "secular-communal" divide, hoping the voters are more concerned about the scandals of the UPA and the grim economic situation.