Congress now appears to be losing Karnataka to BJP

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah is going through the most difficult phase of his political career. First, it was the Hublot wrist watch controversy, and now the alleged scams involving his son.

Siddaramaiah may be putting up a brave face contending that the Congress high command has not sought any clarification from him on any of these issues. But it is a fact that he has already been placed on the "watch list" by the leaders of the party.

As the CM of the largest Congress-ruled state in the country, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) cannot ignore the blunders being committed by the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka.

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Just because there appears no alternative to Siddaramaiah in the state, the Congress cannot rule out the option of replacing him.

The awarding of tenders to a company in which Siddaramaiah's son is a director for coveted projects has led to a series of speculations. The allotment of an alternative land worth Rs 150 crore in the open market to a friend of the son of Siddaramaiah in a 20-year-old case is also bit perplexing.

Siddaramaiah can claim that all these decisions were taken in accordance with law, but the same courtesy was not shown to others who lost their land to the government.

Siddaramaiah came to power by exposing the BJP's misdeeds and by promising transparency in administration. People expected him to increase the pace of development in the state. But nothing on those lines could happen in the last three years. His government is now being considered ineffective, insensitive, corrupt and poor in handling crisis. One of the biggest drawbacks of this government has been the attitude and approach of the CM himself towards issues affecting the people.

For instance, when more than 1,000 farmers committed suicide last year owing to crop failure and mounting debts, it did not move the CM. But when former chief minister SM Krishna, realising the gravity of the situation, visited the families of the farmers who committed suicide, Siddaramaiah woke up from his slumber.

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Likewise, when corporates, industrialists, investors, foreign consulate officers and ordinary public showed concerns over the crumbling infrastructure of Bangalore, Siddaramaiah did not take them seriously. But when the matter reached New Delhi, the CM made a few quick announcements. Time is fast running out for the ruling party in Karnataka and if it has to make any difference, it needs to mend its ways.

There is an acute lack in seriousness among the ministers in addressing issues concerning people. It is a pity that this government cannot even organise a pre-university examination properly, as question papers get leaked while deals are struck in the minister's office. If there is no course correction on a priority basis, the Congress will be handing over Karnataka to the BJP on a platter in the next Assembly elections.

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The BJP has appointed former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa as the head of the party in Karnataka at the right time. Yeddyurappa is not likely to sit quiet, as he is the undisputed leader of Karnataka's largest community of Lingayats, which has been ignored by the Congress government. He is acting like a man on a mission. He has already scored a brownie point by undertaking a trip to the drought-hit region even before Siddaramaiah could do so.

The next few months will be crucial and interesting, as Yeddyurappa has vowed to expose Siddaramaiah's acts of nepotism.

Can the Congress risk further deterioration of administration or its image in Karnataka?

(Courtesy of Mail Today.)