Endgame: Siddaramaiah back as CM?

Bengaluru: In the face of fresh reports that Congress rebels working in tandem with the BJP would step up efforts to pull down the Congress-JD(S) coalition government after results of Lok Sabha polls are announced on May 23, Congress insiders say there is a strong move to safeguard the 'unnatural arrangement' with a change of guard at the top.

This could mark an ailing H.D. Kumaraswamy making way as chief minister for Kuruba strongman Siddaramaiah, who could return for another stint as Chief Minister. Speculation is rife that the strategy to replace Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy with Siddaramaiah has the blessings of JD (S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda as the wily politician feels that such a move would help checkmate the BJP's move to woo disgruntled Congress legislators, many of whom are Siddaramaiah loyalists, to the saffron side.

In addition, the former prime minister could then move his other son and PWD minister H D Revanna into the deputy chief minister's position, which had been the original power sharing arrangement offered by Mr.Siddaramaiah after the 2018 assembly polls.

With bypolls to two Assembly constituencies scheduled for May 19 and the outcome of Lok Sabha polls expected to bring down the strength of the coalition, the BJP, the single largest party post 2018 Assembly polls, believes it will have the numbers  to stake claim to form a new government.

Such speculation has gained currency post former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi's outbursts against the Congress and his younger sibling, Satish Jarkiholi. The rebel legislator has minced no words in stating that he would soon take a call on joining the BJP along with some other disgruntled Congress MLAs. Sources in the Congress said though Mr Gowda reportedly favours deputy chief minister Dr Parameshwar to move up and take over the Chief Minister's mantle as the latter worked for the former prime minister's victory in Tumakuru parliamentary constituency, he would run into a wall as supporters of Mr Siddaramaiah would oppose such a move. The same situation would apply to veteran leader M Mallikarjun Kharge as the former chief minister's supporters would stall this move.   

A Congress leader, who spoke to Deccan Chronicle on the condition of anonymity, said only Mr Siddaramaiah could destabilize the coalition government and not the BJP as he held sway over 78 legislators of the party.

He had buried the hatchet with Mr Deve Gowda and campaigned for Janata Dal (Secular) candidates during Lok Sabha polls, and also showed signs that he was keen to ensure the coalition government completes its term, he added.    

Interestingly, Mr Satish Jarkiholi dismissed his elder brother's threat to quit the Congress as "drama" enacted to create confusion within the party and also to support the demand of his brother-in-law for a ticket in neighbouring Maharastra.