Siddramaiah govt: Is everything all right?

Though Chief Minister Siddaramaiah might have silenced his rivals through his assertion that he will complete his five-year term, the skepticism surrounding his claim is bound to remain. The fact that it has come from the incumbent and the party’s High Command does not mean it’s the final word, it is likely to keep the pot of discontent and dissidence boiling.

Even the party’s state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, has skirted the issue by telling party workers that leadership change is not on the agenda during his current visit. This should be seen as a breather for the embattled CM but may not be sufficient for him to draw a deep sigh of relief.

CM’s deputy Mr. DK Shivakumar too seems to have fallen in line indicating his intention not to queer the pitch for the time being. However, he had his way by forcing the state government to reject the 10-year old caste survey report and announcing a fresh one. Secondly, he has won the assurance that he will remain the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress (KPCC).

This has further reinforced his position within the state party organisation. For quite some time, the Congress party organisa- tion has turned into a tower of babel. Lackeys and flunkies of faction leaders have been advancing claims of an imminent change in the leadership. Yet others have been accusing the ministers of being corrupt.

Karnataka Home minister Parmeshwara’s June 25 remark on the state’s coffers being empty also embarrassed the party though he later clarified that it was a light-hearted remark. Most party men as well as their political rivals did take it as a portrayal of the actual state-of-affairs consequent to the five guarantees that are making government officials scrape the bottom for funds.

If nothing else, it is a hint of not everyone within the party being on the same page in matters of policies. It seems the stirrings of discontent mainly stem from despair due to the long absence of a cabinet reshuffle and no prospects for entry of new faces. The party may have to go for a thorough review of its performance and ways to manage the malcontents.