Readying for the bigger fight

The Vidhana Soudha, the Karnataka government’s seat of power, is almost empty. Most state ministers led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are camping in Mysuru for the by-elections to two assembly constituencies due later this month. With the success in Uttar Pradesh, a resurgent Bharatiya Janata Party has also become aggressive and is following its star campaigner B S Yeddyurappa, even if it means missing former Congress veteran S M Krishna’s induction into the party in Delhi. The results of this month’s by-poll could set the stage for the bigger battle next year for the state assembly.