Taking over Palike: Congress divided on ties with JD(S)

Bengaluru: Just three days after the drubbing in BBMP polls, the Siddaramaiah camp has decided to launch Operation Siddaha Hasta (Operation Expertise)  to lure JD(S) and independent corporators and grab the mayoral post but it has met with stiff resistance from a large section of Congress leaders.

Party loyalists feel there was no need to carry out a poaching game at a crucial juncture when the zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat polls are due in three months, which will be considered a semi-final for the Assembly polls due in 2018. Congress oldtimers also feel the move will ruin the party's reputation across the country and suspect that Mr Siddaramaiah is doing it only to resurrect his image after the defeat in the BBMP polls.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader, said, “Many Congressmen are unhappy. Mr Siddaramaiah will have the same experience he had when he orchestrated the defection of 16 MLAs of BJP in an unsuccessful attempt to topple then CM B.S. Yeddyurappa in 2010. UPA chairperson Mrs Sonia Gandhi and several senior leaders opposed this and did not allow the House to be dissolved then despite the Governor recommending it. Perhaps, Mr Siddaramaiah has forgotten those bitter lessons," the leader said adding that joining hands with JD(S) at a juncture when the BBMP poll verdict is clearly in favour of BJP may only be self-defeating.

A senior cabinet colleague of Mr Siddaramaiah disclosed that the party may not endorse the CM's moves. “No government had succeeded in giving good governance if it’s ruled by a coalition.

Congress had  a bitter experience with JD(S) in 2004-06. We know for sure that Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy will not allow the government or BBMP to function smoothly if we join hands with them. Instead, we need to concentrate on tackling the drought,  farmer  suicides and the Mahadayi river dispute,” the source said.