Former Chief Minister and chairman of the coalition Government Siddaramaiah’s foreign trip ahead of the winter session has led to lot of political speculation in the State.
The winter session of the Karnataka assembly which began on Monday at Belagavi and the absence of Siddaramaiah who has declared that the cabinet expansion of the coalition government led by chief minister HD Kumaraswamy will take place on December 22 has left many congress aspirant MLAs high and dry.
The century old party which is facing a revolt for not expanding the cabinet has set out speculation of operation Lotus by the BJP with 104 seats to garner required seven seats to topple the government. Many of the aspirants from the Congress like MB Patil and others are on their toes to attack the party for not including them in the ministry.
A senior Congress leader on the condition anonymity said that many rebels including powerful Jharkihole brothers of Belagavi are up against the party and threatening to quit. He said “they are also questioning the credibility of the party in aligning with the regional party JDS which is only playing opportunistic and politics of survival. The tomorrow’s election results of the five state is crucial and its going to impact Karnataka politics.”
Meanwhile the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting, which was scheduled to be held in Belagavi on December 10 just before the start of the session, has been deferred to December 18.
Siddaramaiah has left for Malaysia to attend the wedding of one of his family friends and will return to Bengaluru on Friday. The aspirants according to an insider are threatening to boycott the session putting the party in a fix. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy who is heading a fragile coalition has to face the winter session both inside and the outside where sugar cane farmers are protesting for MSP.
Congress has reason to worry as some of the dissident party MLAs are mulling to stay away from the legislature session during the debate on crucial issues to embarrass the ruling coalition. However, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao dismissed such apprehensions. “We have able leaders to face opposition BJP in the Belagavi session,” Gundu Rao said.
Siddaramaiah is expected to return on December 15 and he will remain absent during the first week of the two-week session, which has commenced on Monaday.
Sources said that he is going to Malaysia to attend the wedding of his friend’s daughter. While Siddaramaiah himself has clarified that it was an earlier scheduled tour, the timing of his tour has led to speculation since the Congress is internally under stress from its legislators who are ministerial aspirants.
A senior leader of the congress said “ I totally agree that a section of Congressmen are unhappy at being sidelined in the coalition regime, aspirants for berths are exerting pressure ahead of the proposed Cabinet expansion on December 22. Some legislators are even threatening to stay away from the Legislature session. The party leadership is aware of it and finding ways to deal with it.”
Opposition BJP led by former chief minister and state party president BS Yeddyurappa has been stratagising to attack the coalition government in the absence of Siddaramaiah with many issues which include loan waiver to farmers and AGs report.
Congress working president Eshwar Khandre tried to douse the fire and said Siddaramaiah had informed his tour plans and no legislator will be absent during the session. He also said there is enough space for accommodating every one. Meanwhile Congress party is also planning to issue a whip during critical discussion in case of legislatures decide to abstain from the house.