WE VOTED TO BE CHEATED BY THOSE WHO WE VOTED FOR

Former chief minister of Karnataka and state JD(S) president, HD Kumaraswamy, on Saturday, said “a surprise awaits the people of Karnataka” on Monday.

Well, is it surprise, or is it disappointment for the people of this state?
It's not because it is the BJP government which is falling; it is because the people of this state have forgotten what political stability means.

So sure was Kumaraswamy on Saturday that the BJP government will fail the October 11-scheduled floor test that the vanishing act by the 13 of the 14 rebel MLAs holed up in a 5-star hotel in South Goa appears nothing less than intriguing.

Surely, it was all planned as an instrument to trigger the fall of the Yeddyurappa government. It was no coincidence that Kumaraswamy's statement about people being surprised was timed about the same time as when these dissident MLAs were taken by his close aide and Chamarajpet JD(S) MLA, Zameer Ahmed, to Chennai to keep them away from changing their mind and supporting the Yeddyurappa government.

BJP leaders wasted no time to scream “foul play” while accusing the JD(S) leaders and their close aides of masterminding an operation to abduct the 13 MLAs.

The Yeddyurappa government is on the brink of collapse. But even if it doesn’t, what the dissidents have done shows in ample measure that the people of the state have been taken for a ride…and what a ride it has been!

Then, what surprise was Kumaraswamy talking about in an almost sadistic tone  about pulling the government down, as if it is in the best traditions of the state's political culture.

During the run-up to the state election in May 2008, political activists were all over to appeal to people to come out in good numbers and vote, and “bring in a change”.

Is this the change that the people of this state were promised, that too mid-way through a five-year term?

What a way the people of Karnataka have been cheated! And the cheating has not stopped there; the JD(S) continues to brainwash people to justify what Kumaraswamy is doing is right as it is no less than a revolution to usher in the good for the people, because the BJP-ruled government has been “corrupt” and “neglecting” the people since they came to power on May 30, 2008.

If that is to be seen as sincere, then why is Kumaraswamy gunning for a ministerial berth at the Centre by delivering a fall of a BJP government to the Congress high command, and expecting to be rewarded like a good boy in the form of a Union ministerial berth?

Why are the rebels being wooed with promises of ministerial berths in the state to ensure that they do not return to the BJP fold?

Doesn’t ideological values, political ethics, and respecting the trust of those who voted for them, mean nothing at all?

Do not be surprised when many among the voters will be so disillusioned with the political processes and the present demonstration of political behaviour to bring down government after government in Karnataka, that they will shun anything political altogether to look for “other means” to have their problems redressed.

They already are; that's why activists run from one corner to the other pleading to the people to vote and not "neglect their responsibilities as good citizens of the country".

But for having carried out our responsibilities, this is what we get -- a government voted to power by free and fair means being run down by a bunch of morons who are showing how well-meaning they are towards the society at large, but actually are trying hard to satisfy their own lust for power.

So, people will shun the political processes.

Where then will these netas run with folded hands pleading for votes? Of course, they will still get those from their ardent followers who will vote for them in exchange for promises from their political bosses for jobs or some rule-bending help here and there to get them out of their troubles, criminal or otherwise.

This is what our political parties have come to -- agents of the Devil himself.