Mahabharat is a 2013 Indian drama television series based on the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata.

In an interview with Archana Chaturvedi, Bibek Debroy answered some intriguing questions related to Mahabharata

A commonly asked question is What if Karna joined the Pandavas? What would have been the result, would war have still happened?

Now, first of all there are some misconceptions amongst people that Mahabharata was fought for 'Dharma', Krishna had come to establish Dharma and he wanted war. These things hold no relevance in the Mahabharata of Veda Vyasa. Let's talk through political scenario of the India at that time. Almost the entire Indian subcontinent which was spread across Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan to India was conquered by Karna. Duryodhana was fighting and was confident because of Karna. He loved Karna more than anything, I won't be wrong if I say that Karna was the source of all Duryodhana's powers. What was Duryodhana without Karna? He could not even win Bhanumati Swayamwara on his own. 

Coming to the main question, if Karna would have joined the Pandavas then Yudhisthira would have given his throne to Karna. In politics, every king should have alliances and supporters. If Karna would have become the king, would Panchalas and Yadavas support Karna and would they accept Karna as their king? The answer lies in the fact when Krishna said to Karna that the Yadavas and Panchalas will follow Karna and accept Karna as their sole emperor. Panchalas and Yadavas would have been the allies of Karna. Balrama, Krishna, Pandavas all would have accepted Karna as their king.  Anyway, Karna had defeated and subjugated all the countries in his digvijay yatra and becoming the most politically and socially powerful person in India. For Duryodhana to fight a war, he needs armies and allies but all the allies are with Karna because Karna had defeated and subjugated the countries. It was Karna only who brought 11 akshounis of armies to Hastinapur. Now this 11 akshounis shall side Karna and not Duryodhana. Duryodhana has no allies, no armies, nothing! This time even Bhishma would support Karna to become the king and he will this time side Karna and Pandavas. Until now Bhishma was helpless because Yudhisthira and Duryodhana were equally capable and of almost equal age but now since Karna is the eldest brother of both Yudhisthira and Duryodhana and more capable than the two of them. Bhishma would declare Karna as the king with Panchalas, Yadavas, Krishna, Balrama as his friends, subordinates and subsidiaries. Dhritarasthra under the pressure of Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and other counsellors and courtiers will be forced to give away his throne to Karna. Shakuni won't be able to fool Karna into playing a dice of game again, Karna is an intellectual person and he won't be fooled away by Shakuni easily. So, Karna will be crowned as the king of the Hastinapur and will expand his allies. Karna along with Pandavas, Duryodhana and Kauravas will establish Ram-Rajya again on this earth with Krishna and Balarama as his allies.

Mahabharat is an Indian Hindi-language mythological television drama series. It is based on the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. This 2013 series is a remake of the 1988 TV series of the same name. It ran from 16 September 2013 to 16 August 2014, broadcast on Star Plus. The producer is Swastik Productions Pvt. Ltd. Because of it's Popularity, The Show is re running on Star Bharat from 14 May 2018 . The Show airs Monday To Saturday at 6:00 P.M.

References

Hindi-language television series
Indian culture
2013 television series debuts
2013 establishments in India
2014 Indian television series endings