Expectations of Northern Karnataka

Expectations in Northern Karnataka
Every time a change of guard occurs in Bangalore, the one topic which is invariably discussed is whether the change in government augurs for the Northern Region getting its legitimate share in the development pie. And invariably every government ends its tenure by promising the moon to the people and letting them down badly at the end in the bargain.
This time also, the change in the stewardship has triggered off the discussions and had given to rise lot of expectations that some tangible good may happen to the region. This is based on two essential premises. Firstly the majority partner of the coalition government – the BJP draws its major sustenance from the Northern Karnataka region in general and that of Bombay Karnataka sub region in particular. It is expected to consolidate its position by taking up the programmes, which are dear to the heart of the people of the region.
And the Janata Dal (S) under Mr. Kumaraswamy appears to have realized the heavy political price it has paid for ignoring Northern Karnataka all these days and pooh-poohing its aspirations. The JDS has hardly been able to carve out any tangible base in the region, mainly because of the pronounced anti Northern Karnataka bias of the leadership in general and of Mr. Devegowda in particular. Mr. Devegowda set in motion the firefighting operations as it were on the eve of the zilla and taluk panchayat elections, by roping in as many lingayat leaders into the party as possible but this has hardly impressed the people of the region. If the JDS wants to continue as a credible political force in the state in the days to come, it has to develop political moorings in Karnataka. Unless the party woos Northern Karnataka, it can’t realize the ambition of coming to power on its own in the days to come. Nobody knows it better than Mr. Kumaraswamy, the new Chief Minister, who appears to be political pragmatists and free from the dogmas and prejudices which were the hall marks of the attitude of his illustrious father.
There is however a fly in the ointment- namely the weak leadership in the region in both the camps. As it is both the top posts in the government, have gone to the people who do not belong to the region and not expected to inspire the confidence in the bonafides of the government. And those from the two parties, who are expected to get into the government, are definitely not people with sufficient political clout. For the JDS, the top most leader is going to be Mr. Basavaraj Horatti, MLC representing teachers constituency, who despite all his involvement in the teachers movement is yet to emerge as a politician of merit and standing. For the BJP its top most candidate who may find berth is Mr. Jagadish Shettar, the present president of the state party. The opportunities, that have come to Shettar, of being the Leader of the Opposition, then the President of the unit and now as a possible minister, have brought him personal luck but he is yet to establish himself as the leader of standing, credibility and guts. He has always proved to be an understudy of Mr. Yediyurappa. And has not been able to come out of the shadow all these days.
Ultimately, if something good has to come to region, it must from the combination of Kumaraswamy and Yediyurappa and not because of any calculated political clout and standing of the politicians from the region. Will the due have the energy and time to follow the Northern Karnataka agenda, remains as a million dollar question?
The problems and unkept promises of Northern Karnataka are in a legion. Typical of the unresolved dilemma has been dithering on the implementation of Nanjundappa Committee report on the removal of the regional imbalance. The Krishna government, which constituted the committee, chose to dither on it and hardly anything was done during the regime of Mr. Dharam Singh, barring the lip sympathy given.
There has been a concerted attempt to misrepresent the implications of the Nanjundappa Committee recommendations. What the Committee had recommended was an additional investment of Rs. 16,000 crores over a seven year period to bridge the gap in the development, not only in the Northern Karnataka region, but also in the entire backward tracks of the state. Per year it comes to an investment of Rs. 2000 crores spread over all the twentyseven districts,. For an economically buoyant state of Karnataka, it should not be a major problem to find this much of money. For want of necessary commitment, the governments of the day have not been able to implement the same.
Can the new government break the voodoo or end up like the predecessors offering excuses for not doing the things rather than take the bull by the horn.
(ends) 23:28 hrs. February 10, 2006
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