100 days of Siddu: Good start but…

A good beginning is half the battle won and this saying aptly applies to the 100 days of the Congress government in Karnataka which has just completed its century.

It has surprisingly not been a roller-coaster ride as many had expected it to be after the initial pyrotechnics over government formation.

There is no doubt that the underlying tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar is still simmering but both leaders have shown the magnanimity to set differences aside for the sake of smooth governance.

If one were to identify the cherry on the cake as far as the government’s performance is concerned it would be the implementation of the poll guarantees despite the monumental expenditure involved.

Women across the state are travelling free in state buses while the power subsidy scheme for those who consume up to 200 units, has been implemented bringing smiles on the faces of the middle and lower middle classes who were groaning under the weight of huge power bills.

As for the Anna Bhagya scheme, the Congress government was forced to provide cash in lieu of rice because of an unyielding BJP-led central government, already stung by the Assembly poll loss in the state.

The Gruha Lakshmi scheme which entails depositing Rs 2000 in the accounts of women heads of families is set to be rolled out in a couple of days.

But the good news ends here. Balancing the staggering expenses involved in implementing the guarantee schemes and the state’s limited resources has become the biggest challenge for the government.

The state has been forced to shelve development projects and also curtail much-needed funds for constituency development of MLAs evoking a chorus of dissent with some Congressmen even threatening to resign from the Assembly in protest.

Party leaders have succeeded in putting the lid on the dissent but it remains to be seen how long these legislators will sit quiet. Basavaraj Bommai, despite his dismal performance as the BJP’s CM choice, was the beneficiary of a surplus monsoon last year.

The skies are overcast most of the time this year too but the rains have been deficient triggering fears of another drought which is sure to impact rural Karnataka.

Most dams are only half filled because of scanty rains and with the South-West Monsoon set to peter out in a few weeks, one will have to wait till OctoberNovember for the retreating monsoon for more rains.

Temperatures are rising in the battle with Tamil Nadu over Cauvery water with the row reaching the corridors of the Supreme Court.

The poor rains are going to give the Congress a severe headache for agrarian distress could prove disastrous for the party in the coming Lok Sabha polls when it is hoping to substantially increase its tally from the one seat it won in 2019.

And last but not the least, voters will be watching with keen interest the contest for the CM post which Siddaramaiah has won for now. The Shivakumar camp has however not given up and is waiting for its turn to up the pressure for the post when the time is opportune.

The Deputy CM makes it a point to make his presence felt at every programme attended by the CM and his supporters assert that it is only a matter of time before he assumes the mantle of CM.

The big question is whether the transfer of power will be as smooth as Congressmen expect it to be particularly because of the huge support Siddaramaiah enjoys among legislators.

However for now, the Congress is riding a wave of optimism, strengthened by the woes of the opposition BJP, which has not even been able to identify an opposition leader for the Assembly