Congress takes the initiative in K'taka

Readies for mid-term poll with Union ministry berth for film idol

The Congress in Karnataka is consolidating its position anticipating elections to the state Assembly in the near future as the nine-month-old Janata Dal (Secular)-BJP coalition government begins to show strains in their relationship.

The proactive Congress mindset is apparent from the Prime Minister's decision to appoint Congress MP from Mandya M H Ambareesh, a Vokkaliga, as a Union minister. Vokkaligas are the second largest community in Karnataka.

Though the move came as a surprise to the state Congress cadre, senior leaders contend that Ambareesh's induction was long overdue.

"The JD(S) is closely associated with Vokkaligas since party supremo H D Deve Gowda and his son Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy hail from the same community. After former Chief Minister S M Krishna exited from active politics, no Vokkaliga was given a prominent position in Congress. We hope Ambareesh's appointment as a minister will fetch us Vokkaliga votes," said a former Congress minister.

Congress sources pointed out that Ambareesh's appointment is well-timed in view of the upcoming by-election to the Chamundeshwari Assembly seat in Mysore district.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who quit the JD(S), will seek reelection to the Legislative Assembly from the Chamundeshwari segment on a Congress ticket.

Though Siddaramaiah (who belongs to the Kuruba community) is the undisputed leader in the Old Mysore region, the Congress wants to leave nothing to chance.

"The Chamundeshwari Assembly segment has a significant and decisive Vokkaliga population. If Siddaramaiah had earned the ire of the local Vokkaligas, especially the farmers, by dumping the JD(S), Ambareesh will woo them back into the Congress fold," the sources stated.

Ambareesh, a veteran film star, has spent over three decades in the Kannada tinsel town. He has a large fan following in the Old Mysore region and has won from the Mandya Parliament segment three times in a row.

"He is considered the most suitable candidate to take on Deve Gowda's family in the region," the sources said.

For Kumaraswamy, this will be the first by-election since he became chief minister. The by-election is being seen as a referendum of sorts for the coalition government that has faced corruption charges and has been accused of the lack of performance.

The stock of the JD(S) can be guaged from the fact that it has been unable to finalise the candidate for the by-poll. According to JD(S) sources, no leader is willing to contest against Siddaramaiah.

"It has become a Herculean task for the party leaders to identify a suitable candidate. Besides, coalition partner BJP intends to field its own candidate. We intend to cash in on this situation," another former Congress minister said.