KMF Chairman's post new battleground for Siddu, DKS?

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar may run into more disagreements over the appointment of the new Chairman of the Karnataka Milk Federation. The body is currently headed by Siddaramaiah loyalist Bheema Naik, who is also the Congress MLA from Hagaribommannahalli (Vijayanagara district). The Grand Old Party had stormed back to power in May 2023, which displaced BJP appointee Balachandra Jarkiholi from the KMF Chairman’s post.

Balachandra is the younger brother of Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi. Naik then took over as KMF Chairman. Moreover, he wants a full term after the current term expires. However, Shivakumar now wants his brother and former MP DK Suresh to head the KMF. Suresh had suffered a crushing defeat in his Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha stronghold last year to BJP candidate Dr CN Manjunath by more than 2,69,000 votes. Ever since, Suresh has not been an elected representative. His name was mooted for the Channapatna by-poll but five-time MLA from the segment CP Yogeshwar joined the Congress and landed the ticket and won. Behind Shivakumar’s insistence on getting Suresh to helm the KMF is that he wants to emulate the strategy that the JD(S) has employed successfully.

Under party patriarch HD Devegowda, they have used the district milk unions and the KMF to shore up the support of the politically dominant landed Vokkaliga caste in the Old Mysuru region. For instance, Devegowda’s son and Holenarasipura MLA HD Revanna has held sway over the Hassan Milk Union Limited through loyalists in his home district. Both Shivakumar and Suresh on the one hand and Gowda family on the other are Vokkaligas.

BAMUL, KOMUL polls: Elections are going to be held for both Bangalore Milk Union Limited (BAMUL) and Kolar Milk Union Limited (KOMUL). The elections will then have a direct bearing in the selection of the KMF Chairman. Holding power over the KMF means representing some 25 lakh milk producers in the state, a section of whom are Vokkaligas of Old Mysuru.

Being a landed caste, they are agriculturalists and dairy farmers and are well represented among the milk producers. The milk unions’ polls and the affairs of the KMF may have a bearing on the upcoming Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat, which may take place in July or August. As of late, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have been trying to be diplomatic in public about the friction between their camps. Siddaramaiah loyalists want Shivakumar replaced as Karnataka Congress chief. Meanwhile, the Shivakumar camp wants their man to be elevated to the CM’s post late this year in line with the "promise" made.