Karnataka political crisis: With government on brink, Gowdas bank on God

BENGALURU: The ongoing game of one-upmanship in Karnataka’s corridors of power has forced key players to bank on something more than mere arithmetic: Planetary alignments and gods.
The question that baffled the opposition in the middle of the drama in the assembly on Thursday was: How is it that chief minister HD Kumaraswamy appears calm and composed when his government is tottering?

Speaking to TOI, JD(S) leaders exuded confidence that the debate on the trust vote will continue till Tuesday and that the Kumaraswamy government would ace the vote.Asked how the government would survive when coalition MLAs are resigning by the day, JD(S) sources said: “JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda’s family, including his CM-son Kumaraswamy and minister-son HD Revanna, have been performing special prayers for the government’s survival. They have consulted priests and astrologers who have said the government will survive if the crucial trust vote is deferred till Tuesday evening.”
Sources said priests have been performing homas at the residence of top JD(S) leaders and god-fearing Revanna has been on a temple-hopping spree ever since the political crisis unravelled. He was spotted walking barefoot in the temple towns of Sringeri and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), praying for the longevity of the government.
The religious zeal isn’t limited to the JD(S) though. BJP strongman BS Yeddyurappa, who appears in a tearing hurry to occupy the CM’s chair, has been consulting astrologers on the auspicious time to take over. Yeddyurappa performed Ati Rudra Maha Yaga in Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple, Bengaluru, on Wednesday to imbibe powers of invincibility. He also peformed a Grahana Mukti Yaga — to remove all obstacles in his path.
Yeddyurappa’s sister performed Guggulamma Yaga in Bookanakere, his birthplace in Mandya district, on Tuesday. She also performed a Shatru Samhara Yaga. The same day, one of his two daughters performed several rituals at Huchchuraya temple in Shikaripura, Yeddyurappa’s hometown.
Sources in the BJP say Yeddyurappa had been advised to “complete the political job” by Sunday.