Speculations aside, here’s why Siddu will stay CM for now

NT Bengaluru: It appears that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will continue as the head of government in the near future. Siddaramaiah has the support of 100 or so MLAs out of the 134 Congress lawmakers in the Assembly. These numbers put him head and shoulders above other CM aspirants and is what secured him a victory in the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in May last year. He is also seen as the most popular mass leader in the party. However, a lot of water has flown under the bridge since and Siddaramaiah, who once had a relatively clean image, is now forced to contend with corruption charges under the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) illegal land allotment case. The CM’s wife BM Parvati received 14 plots, allegedly of higher value than the land she lost to MUDA. Parvati has since given up her claim on the sites. However, an FIR has been filed against Siddaramaiah under the Prevention of Corruption Act and a probe is underway. This has made other CM aspirants stake a claim on the post. Among them is Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, who may command the support of 30 or so MLAs. The other contender is Siddaramaiah loyalist and Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who is said to have the support of 20 MLAs from his native Kittur-Karnataka region. It is to be noted that MLAs in the Satish camp also voted for Siddaramaiah in the CLP meeting. However, Jarkiholi’s recent overtures to All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge and a meeting with BJP state president BY Vijayendra have raised eyebrows. There has also been a push for the first Dalit CM in Karnataka’s history from the Siddaramaiah camp. It is seen as a move to undermine Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga.

AICC unhappy; The intrigue and closed door meetings came to the notice of the AICC leadership, which has expressed its displeasure over the same. AICC general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal had a telephonic conversation with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the CM’s residence on Wednesday, asking them to quell the intrigue.

Camps always existed: Prof Mysore University political Science professor Muzaffar Assadi said different camps staking a claim for the CM’s post have always existed in Karnataka Congress. He pointed out that there were a considerable number of MLAs backing Mallikarjun Kharge’s claim to the post in the past. He added that Siddaramaiah looked to be in the driver’s seat for now. “Satish’s group has existed for a while now. He has an organisation. They deliver lectures, talks and seminars and project him as the next leader. This is nothing new,” he said. “If anything, these allegations will galvanise Siddaramaiah’s support bases. You saw the recent (“Swabhimana Sawavesha” for Backward Classes) meeting in Raichur district. People are with him. The moment he is removed, the Congress will suffer,” he added.