This is the time for the kingmaker of Karnataka to work overtime to enthrone the new king in place of the old N. Dharam Singh. More so because the talks H. D. Deve Gowda had with Sonia Gandhi yesterday, for a considerable length of time, has failed. The JD (S) supremo H. D. Deve Gowda, the father of the kingmaker H. D. Kumaraswamy, has now returned to Bangalore, his home ground, where he is more comfortable than in Delhi and, therefore, more effective.

Let us watch his moves.

The way the Karnataka political drama is unfolding, it is clear that it is no longer the theatre of the absurd. The JD (S) - BJP coalition government is bound to be in place on January 27 or 28. The trust - vote, which Dharam Singh in a show of bravado has decided to face on 27th is bound to go against him going by the prevailing political trends.

Now the question is: "Who will be the Chief Minister?"

The kingmaker Kumaraswamy has said more than once that if the senior leaders of JD (S) like Rajashekhar Murthy, M.P. Prakash and P. G. R. Sindhya are ready to join him, he would not mind making anyone of them the Chief Minister. Among these three only Rajashekhar Murthy has openly supported Kumaraswamy's move. The other two have remained dogmatic and adamant about shaking hands with the BJP "devil".

That should leave the Chief Minister's vacancy for Rajashekhar Murthy. After all, Kumaraswamy's father H. D. Deve Gowda had already promised this highest office of the State to him at the time Rajashekhar Murthy resigned his BJP membership and also the Rajya Sabha seat to join JD (S) at the instance of Deve Gowda.

In politics, it is difficult to expect politicians to keep their word of honour. As such should Kumaraswamy anoint Rajashekhar Murthy, the Lingayat leader and one of the most experienced Ministers of the State known for his integrity, he will be creating a sort of history in State politics.

There will be difficulties, no doubt. But then, the political equations can also be worked out in such a way that both Rajashekhar Murthy and Kumaraswamy are rewarded with the Chief Minister's office. The understanding between the BJP and the JD (S) is to follow the J&K model for power - sharing and also for sharing the Chief Minister's office — each party will have its Chief Minister for 20 months.

If this is so, JD (S) can satisfy both Rajashekhar Murthy and Kumaraswamy by sharing the Chief Minister's office in turns during the period of 20 months.

Rajashekhar Murthy is not a member of either of the Legislative Houses. As such, he can be the Chief Minister only for six months after which he has to seek election and get elected to continue in the office.

However, in the present case Rajashekhar Murthy may as well vacate the office after six months without having to face the hassle of election and make room for Kumaraswamy for the remaining 14 months as the Chief Minister.

Regarding the BJP camp, like Congress High Command, which the BJP is also known to imitate, all decisions will be taken at Delhi.