Congress Government in Karnataka captained by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has completed three years in office on Friday. In an irony of a sort 67 year old Siddaramaiah who fought the congress throughout his political career has joined the Congress just a decade ago and became the Chief Minister playing the backward classes’ politics to the hilt. His three years term in office is no smooth affair as he is still considered an outsider in the Congress and facing internal rebellion. Many scams and wrong political decisions have brought down his rising graph to unpopularity.
His diamond studded rupees 70 lakh Hublot wrist watch controversy to creation of a separate Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) snatching away lokayukta powers has made him no defendable in the changing political scape of the state. The opposition BJP also dragged him into land de notification controversies which dented his image more apart from involvement of his doctor son in a Government tender process.
It is interesting that the Congress returned to power after a decade by winning 122 of the 225 seats in the May 2013 assembly elections after defeating the BJP ( first BJP Government in south ) and consolidated its hold on the state despite bickering by a section of its leaders for not making them ministers or heads of boards.
However amidst criticism by the opposition Siddaramaiah declared that he would continue as Chief Minister till he completes five year term and also said he would lead the party in 2018 assembly elections.
In an interaction with the media in Delhi on the eve of completing three years in the hot seat, Siddaramaiah said he supported the demand for a Dalit Chief Minister in Karnataka but that did not mean that he would be replaced as rumoured.
Asked how he felt about his administration, he said, “I am satisfied with my performance as I gave corruption-free administration. My Government launched several welfare programmes like Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya and a scheme for farmers.”
When reporters sought his reaction to complaints against him by a section of the party leaders, he said, “It is just rumour. There may be some people not happy because they did not get any post, but I will speak to them”.
He said, “The long-pending Cabinet reshuffle will take place by the end of this month. While retaining some existing ministers, I will induct several new faces.”