Nanjangud bypoll test awaits Siddaramaiah

BENGALURU: With prominent Dalit leader V. Srinivas Prasad quitting his seat in the Legislative Assembly, a section of Congressmen feel a test time awaits Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as the Kuruba strongman has to prove his popularity yet again in his home district of Mysuru by ensuring a victory for the ruling party candidate in the forthcoming bypoll.

These Congressmen feel the contest would turn out to be one between Mr Srinivas Prasad and Mr Siddaramaiah irrespective of who the ruling party would field for the bypoll. And a victory for Mr Prasad would surely be read as “referendum” against Mr Siddaramaiah.

Speaking to DC, a senior leader said Mr Prasad's exit would certainly dent the Congress’s traditional voting pattern at least in Chamarajnagar and Mysuru districts  where the leader was considered an icon by Dalits, and a force to reckon with despite his poor health.

“His stature is such in these two districts, if not in entire Old Mysuru region, that he has won many admirers from his community as well as from other communities. The day he was dropped from the cabinet by Mr Siddaramaiah, it was Chamarajanagar's five-time MP, Mr Dhruvanarayana, who visited him first to console him. This mirrors Mr Prasad's stature in the community," the leader added. 

He said even if Mr Siddaramaiah tries all tricks to woo the electorate in this constituency, chances are bright for Mr Prasad’s victory.  “Therefore, this by-poll would test true leadership qualities of Mr Siddaramaiah rather than that of Mr Prasad, as both belong to same region  and have grown together helping each other irrespective of party affiliations during their hey days.  Therefore, Mr Siddaramaiah might try to avoid facing by-poll at this juncture as his carefully crafted image of tough leader during recent Cauvery dispute might wither away if Congress candidate is defeated,” he said. 

Apart from these factors, Mr Siddaramaiah's claims that his government had always worked for the uplift of the downtrodden, too, would be put to test in his home district. “Another worry for the party is to avoid getting drawn into the politics of referendum”, however much, we try and the party may not succeed much from  getting drawn into this, as the party can not escape much because, election might take place at least eight months ahead of 2018 Assembly elections. Therefore, the Opposition will queer the pitch saying that this is a referendum against Mr Siddaramaiah, and which might add an advantage to Mr Prasad rather than benefiting us,” he said.