The NewSense

BANGALORE: From Sept. 29th – Oct. 6th, torrential rains have caused devastating floods in the North Karnataka, claiming over 250 lives & affecting nearly 2 million people. These floods are recorded as being the worst to ravage these areas in 100 years. Roads & farms are submerged in water, putting estimated relief, rehabilitation & reconstruction costs at billions of dollars. Those displaced are suffering acutely due to lack of food and clean water. Exactly when the state government lead by chief minister B.S.Yediyurappa was working for relief, rehabilitation & reconstruction for the victims of the flood, a political drama unfolded in the BJP affecting not only the victims of flood but it made all its voters as victims for voting them. At these crucial hours of flood relief some of the ministers & MLA’s belonging to the flood affected area felt as if this flood is curse of god for arrogance of Chief Minister and his some close aides & demanded for the change of leadership for the state BJP. They deserted their constituency & relief work and shifted to resort in order to sort out the leadership problem. It was the beginning of the end of BJP era from Karnataka. People started complaining to police about the absconding of their assembly member. The first southern BJP state of India never bothered to worry about the woes of its citizen & corruption rose to its peak during the administration. The moment they came to the power they proved how hungry they were & after a year & half the rebellions outburst against the chief minister destroyed the party image in the state. Ironically the so called high command in Delhi took almost all two weeks to sort it out & at last the differences are postponed for a moment & they have decided to continue under the same leader ship for some more time. Lot of changes are likely to happen in the party in  coming days but one thing to remain in power is the power of money. The dispute in party was not the differences of ideology or ethics. It was dispute for power sharing and in the end money power prevailed and very core ethics were destroyed. People of Karnataka witnessed one of rarest political drama in the history of the state and no doubt they will forget it within no time. But what keeps this memory haunting forever is the flood. The people who have lost their beloved family members, houses & their farms would always remember this flood and their legislatures who enjoyed in the resorts during this period. People felt ashamed for voting them. A party with difference is now a party of differences and people of India are convinced that there is no future for the party once Advani-Vajpayee era is completed. It is really unfortunate but they deserved it. But at the end BJP has to remember that “you reap what you have sown”. People of Karnataka need a lot of time to forget the flood and its aftermath but they will never forgive the BJP for their acts during their worst time. Public memory may be short but flood which has devastated their life will remind them and it will destroy the BJP government if it seeks votes in near future. This flood has washed away ethics of party and hopes of its supporters.