Trouble is brewing for Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who has been playing appeasement of backward classes to the hilt. Many Congress leaders have reportedly complained to the party high command that the Chief Minister has been inactive to promote Congress ideology but busy promoting his own appeasement of his Kuruba community to consolidate his influence in his caste to become undisputed leader of the community. This consolidation has irked many leaders especially leaders belonging to dominant communities.
Siddaramaiah, who is going to complete two-and-half years in office, has been facing tremendous rebellion and to quell the rebellion he had declared that he would rejig his Cabinet. There is also a very loud cry for bringing a Dalit as Chief Minister replacing Siddaramaiah and many groups within the party are projecting senior Dalit leader and leader of the Opposition in the lok Sabha Mallikharjuna Kharge as natural choice for the post.
A senior Congress leader told The Pioneer that Siddaramaiah has failed to assuage the hurt feelings of the “original” Congressmen by promoting his own community. He also said his main agenda was to build his image and consolidate his influence in his caste to become undisputed leader of Kuruba community. The leader said this would damage the party very badly as he is ignoring other communities and Dalits. The unabated farmer suicides in the State are black spot on the administration of Siddaramaiah who is now making some efforts to help the farming community.
In another development, former Chief Minister SM Krishna was reportedly called by the party high command to apprise them of the situation in the State. Krishna, who met party president Sonia Gandhi, twice in 30 days, is tightlipped on his discussion with the high command but it is reported that Krishna was called to apprise of the rebellion in the party.
In a related development, State party president and a Dalit leader G Parameshwara, who is an aspirant to become Deputy Chief Minister, met SM Krishna on Saturday fueling the speculation about brewing rebellion against Siddaramaiah. Parameshwara said it was only a courtesy visit and said he was called by party in-charge Digvijay Singh to Delhi to discuss party affairs.
However, visibly upset Siddaramaiah said in Mysore, “How can I comment on leaders meeting KrishnaIJ All of us are members of the same party. We meet each other to discuss various issues.”
However, a close aide of Siddaramaiah feels high command was not in a position to destabilise him as Karnataka is the only major State Congress controls in the country. He also points out Siddaramaiah if he is sacked he has the capacity to split the party. “We are not in a position to go for an election at this stage,” he said.
Siddaramaiah had not effected the reorganisation of his Cabinet even after over two years of coming to power. The Congress, which came to power in May 2013, is facing various demands from various quarters in the party rising within.
Disgruntled leaders of the party, identified themselves as ‘true’ Congressmen have been complaining against the CM not obliging their demand for the Cabinet reshuffle by dropping non-performing Ministers.
Siddaramaiah, who has remained an undisputed leader in the party after it wrested power from the BJP, has desisted from expanding or reshuffling his Cabinet.
The Chief Minister, who joined Congress from Janata Dal (Secular) during last decade has been accused of ‘ignoring’ the original Congress leaders ever since he was named the Chief Minister.
The Congress Government in Karnataka has completed half of its term now and there has been persisting demands from the old Congress members that they are ‘given their due’.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah will leave for Delhi on Sunday mainly to discuss the expansion or at least reshuffle of his Cabinet. Sources in the party said the reshuffle of the Cabinet will happen sooner than later and a seizable number of Ministers will be dropped. “The high command will decide whether to name a Dy CM and will also discuss matter of Cabinet expansion, Parameshwara said.
The KPCC president, who was a frontline contender for Chief Minister’s post before the 2013 Assembly election, was sidelined after he lost his Assembly seat.