Cabinet reshuffle in Karnataka to quell rebellion has made it worse
Karnataka's chief minister Siddaramaiah was under the impression that the "rebellion" in the party over the cabinet reshuffle would simmer down, but on the contrary, it increased with as many as 45 legislators expressing their displeasure with the senior Congress leaders for ignoring them.
All the 45 legislators are now rallying behind former CM SM Krishna and demanding a change in the leadership.
This is not what Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi expected when he entrusted the task of cabinet reshuffle to Siddaramaiah. Voters belonging to several communities and regions are unhappy with the manner in which the reshuffle was handled.
In all likelihood, it will affect the party's preparations for the 2018 Assembly elections, as the disgruntled Congress leaders are being wooed by the other political parties.
When Siddaramaiah was in New Delhi two weeks ago to seek the approval of the Congress high command for reshuffle, he was made to visit senior leader Mallikarjuna M Kharge's home twice for his approval.
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While the Congress leaders in Karnataka and the ministerial aspirants were under the impression that Kharge and Siddaramaiah were working out a favourable combination, none expected the inclusion of Priyank Kharge into the cabinet.
This came at the cost of senior Congress leader and Dalit representative V Srinivasa Prasad. Two other ministers Baburao Chinchansur and Qamar-Ul-Islam, who hailed from Gulbarga in north Karnataka (same district as that of Kharge), were also dropped.
All the three sacked ministers accused Kharge of nepotism, as his son was given the plum portfolio of IT/BT ministry. While Srinivasa Prasad said that he was made a sacrificial goat to accommodate Kharge's son in the cabinet, Chinchansur and Islam alleged that Kharge got them removed from the cabinet because he did not want their presence to overshadow Priyank.
Both Islam and Chinchansur are heavyweights with mass following in their respective communities and they have vowed to defeat Kharge's family in the next elections.
Kharge may be maintaining that he had no role to play in the inclusion of his son in the cabinet, but it is a fact that he gave his nod for the reshuffle.
This will affect the Congress' prospects in intervention of senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes has also not helped the party in ending the rebellion north Karnataka where SCs/STs and minorities are present in significant numbers.
In south Karnataka also, the Congress has made a new enemy in Vokkaligas (the second largest community in the state with 13 per cent share in population) by dumping popular film star-turned-politician MH Ambarish. Shockingly, it did not announce any replacement.
Senior Congress leader M Krishnappa (Vokkaliga) was humiliated after he was dropped at the last minute.
Supporters of Ambarish and Krishnappa went on a rampage in Vokkaliga-dominated districts in the Cauvery basin following the reshuffle.
Another Vokkaliga leader Kimmane Ratnakara was also sacked as part of the reshuffle, but there was no replacement.
Siddaramaiah has left a vacancy in his cabinet and he may accommodate a Vokkaliga at a later stage.
The immediate task for Siddaramaiah is to convince the rebels by taking them into confidence. If he allows the situation to aggravate further, it could be dangerous for the Congress in the long term.
The intervention of senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes has not helped the party in ending the rebellion.
Though Siddaramaiah appointed lesser-known rebels as chairpersons of Boards and Corporations, it is the Dalits and Vokkaligas vote bank that he has to take care of.
If Siddaramaiah does not complete the task in the next one week, the rebellion will continue to persist with his rivals within the party having an edge over him.
(Courtesy of Mail Today.)