Siddaramaiah's current actions underscore old belief that nothing is certain in politics; insiders say he is encouraging his MLAs to defect to the ruling party.
Siddaramaiah's current actions underscore old belief that nothing is certain in politics; insiders say he is encouraging his MLAs to defect to the ruling party.u00a0
Is Siddaramaiah, leader of the Opposition in the assembly, resorting to hit a self-goal to defeat his team in a political match against the BJP government? Yes, if Congress insiders are to be believed."Siddaramaiah is so frustrated in the party that he has turned rebel," said a source. "But he is too confused to leave because he has no political scope outside of the party, and hence he is playing an anti-force."
In happier times: Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and Siddaramaiah during
the inauguration of Sangolli Rayanna statue at Khodays Circle. File picIt is a known secret that Siddaramaiah has dreams of becoming the Chief Minister and he joined hands with H D Kumaraswamy, state president of the JD(S), to topple the BJP government. But, the high command did not encourage him, while local leaders are creating hurdles for him in the party.
"While BJP is poaching our MLAs, the Siddaramaiah group is giving an impression that the party legislators will leave the party because of high command's 'wrong' policy. If the need arises, they will make one or two members resign to show that the threat is not just a hoax," said the source.
While his voice is not heard at the level of the high command, his loyalists, that include Satish Jarakiholi, an MLA representing Yamakanamaradi, are offering to resign. Sources said that it is a tactical exercise to put pressure on the high command.
A source close to Jarakiholi said that he was contemplating on leaving the party to support the Yeddyurappa government either by joining the BJP or being an independent candidate. Along with him, a handful of Congress MLAs including Malikiah Guttedar, and Babu Rao Chinchansoor are believed to be lined up to undergo 'Operation Lotus'.
However, the BJP is understood to have to decide to tread cautiously in this direction. This is because the Congress and the JD(S) are considering tendering mass resignations, in case the poaching continues, to create a constitutional crisis that might push the centre to clamp a President's rule in the state.
"We may stop 'Operation Lotus' for the time being for strategic reasons, but that doesn't mean that we discourage other party leaders from joining us," said KS Eswarappa, BJP state president.
Admitting that the group was not happy in the party, B S Shivanna, Siddaramaiah's Man Friday, said, "The high command must understand certain issues so that we can function as an effective political party in the state. Otherwise, there is no point in having a strong leader like Siddaramaiah as a party member."
He refuted charges that Siddaramaiah was indulging in an internal sabotage, "Wait for the court judgment on disqualification the BJP MLAs. Then we will let you know about our plan of action," he said.
| Previously... |
| >>After news trickled out that the BJP had managed to coax Jagalur MLA S V Ramachandra in leaving Congress, Siddaramaiah, along with other senior members of the party, had rushed to B S Yeddyurappa's residence to demand an explanation on October 19.
>>They then shouted slogans and held impromptu speeches outside the CM's house.A group of 51 Congressmen tried to push their way through the gates. The police arrested all of them and later released them. After their release, 40 odd members including R V Deshpande, D K Shiva Kumar and Siddaramaiah headed back to Chancery Pavilion where they had checked in a day before.
>>"We will continue our protest and oppose 'Operation Lotus'. Right now the Jagalur MLA is absconding.
Once we find him, we will bring him back to the Congress. We will meet the Governor and ask him not to accept Ramachandra's resignation,"Siddaramaiah had
said then. |
