Bangalore, Mar 07: With 50 days left for the two-phase simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Karnataka, the state has been witnessing an unprecedented party hopping. The scene, described as politics of polarisation by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, is still hazy and desertions continue as the parties are gearing up to woo the voters. The All India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) appears to be the worst victim as it has been virtually decimated with leaders switching over to various parties.

The BJP, which has been making all-out efforts to form its first state government in the south, has been sending feelers to the leaders from other parties in a bid to consolidate its position. While the BJP claims that polarisation of political forces in the state was taking place, Chief Minister S M Krishna admits that "some sort of a polarisation" was being witnessed in the state.
With the exit of former Chief Minister S Bangarappa, who joined the BJP on March 04, Chief Minister S M Krishna remarked "the BJP has proved beyond doubt that it was the biggest trading group in the country".

Bureau Report