The political crisis brewing in Karnataka has become highly dramatic. In the latest development, rebel MLAs from the Congress-JD(U)S government refused to meet Congress leader DK Shivakumar, who had flown from Bengaluru to Mumbai on Wednesday 10 July to speak to them.
Police denied entry to Shivakumar on the basis of allegations of threat to life made by the rebel MLAs in a late night letter. But Shivakumar refused to budge, saying the MLAs were his ‘friends’.
“I'll not go without meeting my friends. They'll call me. Their heart will break. I'm in touch already, our hearts are beating,” Shivakumar said.
Meanwhile, former Karnataka CM and BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa told media that he will meet the Karnataka Assembly Speaker.
"The Speaker has still not condemned tearing up of resignations (of rebel MLAs) by DK Shivakumar. Tearing up of resignations is an apradh that is unforgivable,” he said.
Now, Twitterati wasn’t just amused by these movie-like developments. They also raised serious questions about the BJP’s ‘resort politics’, the Congress’ lackadaisical approach and more.
“Karnataka is the drama queen of Indian politics,” journalist Nistula Hebbar tweeted.
BJP Normalising Resort Politics
Congress worker Shama Mohamed said BJP is subverting democracy by open indulgence in horse trading, by offering hundreds of crores to MLAs.
“Using black money, power & state machinery to destabilise a democratically elected state government,”she tweeted.
Congress spokesperson Kumar Raja also tweeted that BJP is normalising resort politics and horse trading culture in the country.
National Convener of Congress social media department Saral Patel also commented on DK Shivakumar being denied entry into the hotel.
“So if I book a room in a luxury hotel in New Delhi & then write a letter to Commissioner saying I feel frightened and don't let XYZ person enter the hotel. Will they too deploy SRP and Riot Control Police outside the hotel,” he asked.
“This is not just a fight to save Karnataka government, it is a fight to save democracy,” wrote Congress supporter Srivatsa.
Where are the Congress leaders?
Many Twitter users also attacked the Congress for not standing in solidarity with DK Shivakumar. Journalist Swati Chaturvedi said, “So D K Shivakumar is standing outside the hotel trying to get back the rebel Karnataka MLAs while the useless Mumbai unit of INCIndia cannot give him any support or even stand with him. What a pathetic bunch.”
“Shouldn’t they all (Congress leaders) be outside that hotel along with DK Shivakumar?” asked journalist Rohini Singh.
One Twitter user called Congress leaders ‘armchair revolutionaries’.
“The only leader who knows the art of street fighting is DK Shivakumar,” he tweeted.
Journalist Nidhi Razdan also said DK Shivakumar is the only Congress leader putting up a fight.
“The rest of the party could care less,” she tweeted.
Congress leader Milind Deora tweeted that he has spoken to DK Shivakumar and assured support. But Twitter users criticised him.
One of them said, “That man has travelled miles to save his state and party. The least you could do is stand shoulder to shoulder with him. With leaders like you is it any wonder why Congress seats are dwindling at both the Centre and state levels? What a shame.”
Journalist Swati Chaturvedi also said a phone call doesn’t cut it.
The BJP’s means are being noted as ‘undemocratic and unfair’, what is left to see is what the Congress will do to save face and the government in Karnataka. The party will have to go beyond tweets and phone calls of solidarity.
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