The political one-upmanship in Karnataka is now turning in favor of the JDS-Congress combine. The rebel MLAs are slowly relenting and giving signs of coming back to the ruling alliance. Congress trouble-shooter DK Shivakumar visited rebel MLA MBT Nagaraj’s residence and convinced him to withdraw his resignation. Nagaraj has also agreed to work with the ruling alliance and he is meeting with Ex CM Siddharamaiah to convey his decision.

The other rebel MLAs are also in talks with the Congress senior leaders in Mumbai. Most of them are in a changed mood to come back to the parent alliance. The prolonged stalemate is obviously the reason for rebels’ changing decisions. The BJP came close to achieving its goal but the JDS-Congress leaders fought back with their counter master plans.

CM Kumaraswamy’s final master stroke was his decision to go for confidence motion in the Assembly. If the rebel MLAs defeat the confidence vote, they will face action. In any eventuality, there is no chance for the BJP to form the government. The JDS has dismissed chances of joining hands with the BJP in the beginning itself. Political observers say that CM Kumaraswamy’s father and Ex PM Deve Gowda has played a crucial role in keeping the ruling alliance together by avoiding the BJP.