The opposition unity on display at Karnataka will be tested in days to come. With Prime Narendra Modi and BJP in pole position the opposition parties had no choice but to join hand together for political survival. Today Janata Dal Secular (JDS)-Congress combine won a trust vote in the Karnataka assembly moments after the opposition BJP staged a dramatic walkout. Winning trust vote is an important achievement but road ahead will be difficult. The ideologies of opposition parties including that of Congress and JD (S) are different and it will be herculean task to work together. Already statement of Congress leader and deputy chief minister G Parameshwara’s that coalition is “yet to discuss modalities” about Mr Kumaraswamy continuing as Chief Minister for a full five year term has set tongues wagging.
BJP leaders B S Yeddyurappa has predicted that the Congress-JDS alliance won’t last more than three months. There are suggestions that the BJP is hoping that lawmakers left out when the Chief Minister forms his cabinet could be open to switching sides. The success or failure of Congress-JD (S) alliance in Karnataka will determine whether opposition unity on national stage can be achieved. If two parties run successful government it will offer mantra which can be followed in rest of the country. With BJP under the leadership of PM Modi expected to do good in 2019 general election, the opposition parties is left with little choice. For their own political survival they may have to end up supporting each other. But such scenario may also work in favour of PM as he will try to pitch it as Modi vs rest.