Siddaramaiah backers keen on mid-term poll?

Bengaluru: Is the Congress pushing for a mid-term election in Karnataka? Going by some party insiders, several of its legislators are clamouring for former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to take over the reins of the government again and with the relationship between the party and its coalition partner, the Janata Dal (S)  souring, they reportedly feel it's time to end its ten-month tie-up with it and seek a fresh mandate from the people.

Some claim the Congress could say goodbye to the JD(S) if it wins at least 13 of the 28 parliamentary seats in Karnataka.  Bolstered by its wins in the  Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, the party could break ties with the JD(S) and go for a snap poll under the leadership of Mr Siddaramaiah, they say.

Several Congress legislators reportedly feel that remaining in the coalition in the state could be detrimental to the party as its workers are finding it hard to back its old rival-now-turned ally, the JD(S). especially in the Vokkaliga-dominated Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan, Tumakuru, Chikkaballapur, Bangaluru Rural and Chitradurga districts.

Party leaders note that things  came to a head in Hassan, Mandya and Tumakuru these Lok Sabha polls with the local Congress leaders and workers refusing to campaign for the JD(S). And going by the response to the Congress during the campaign. some in the party now believe it could cross the magic number of 113 on its own  if a snap poll is held.

They argue that it could be the right time to strike if the BJP- led NDA government fails to come back to power at the Centre . "It is well known  that the BJP entirely depends on the popularity of Mr Modi and in its absence its chances of crossing 113 seats is quite unlikely in the state. Also, the BJP's image has suffered after it made futile attempts to poach the Congress and the JD(S) MLAs to achieve a simple majority," they contend.