Congress to CM: Pick Badami too

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will reportedly contest the forthcoming Assembly elections from two seats — Chamundeshwari in Mysuru district and Badami in North Karnataka, said sources, who were privy to the latest internal discussion in the Congress party on the short listing of candidates. 

“Contrary to speculation that Siddaramaiah has developed cold feet over Chamundeshwari in the wake of overwhelming popularity of the JD(S) MLA and friend-turned -political foe - G.T. Devegowda, he is firm that he would fight the forthcoming elections from Chamundeshwari, where he knows practically every voter. He has convinced the party high command that Chamundeshwari is his choice even though he has been advised otherwise. He has been given the second option of fighting from Badami, which is dominated by the Kuruba community to which Siddaramaiah belongs and he is likely to agree to the proposal in the screening committee and the central election committee meeting this Saturday in Delhi,” said a well placed source, who requested anonymity. 

Sources close to the developments said his decision to contest from Chamundeshwari is not political hara-kiri as much as a 'gamble'. With an internal party survey giving a tally of 90 to 100 to the Congress, the JD(S), which is likely to rope in 35 to 40 seats, is reportedly agreeable on supporting Congress with the caveat being that the H.D. Deve Gowda led party is only willing to back senior party leader Mallikarjuna Kharge as the next chief minister.

"Siddaramaiah wants to anoint his son - Dr Yathindra - a greenhorn - as his political successor and has given him, his constituency Varuna. If he loses Chamudeshwari, and the party fails to get a simple majority, he can make a 'dignified' exit from coalition politics rather than have to face being shown the door by the father-son duo of the JD(S), who would leave no stone unturned to demean the man they dub the  'traitor.'  On the other hand if the Congress is able to win 110 seats, then he will retain his chief ministership for the second time. More than the Lingayat issue, his social welfare schemes will stand him in good stead," said the source.

A paler shade of saffron? BJP may get only 70 seats, says internal survey

The number tally for the BJP in the forthcoming Assembly polls has reportedly nose-dived to a dismal count of 70 as per an internal and Intelligence survey after the party announced its first list of 72 candidates a couple of days ago. "There are quite a few challenges that the party is facing -  from the rebels, who have already started protesting, the dilemma to dump or repatriate the Reddy brothers to the party, who between them alone control 15 to 20 seats; lack of active campaigning, old school politicians, who are out of tune with the politics of today and the wait for the Modi magic to deliver," said a reliable source, unwilling to be named. 

PM Narendra Modi, the BJP's star campaigner is likely to hold extensive and back to back rallies in the State but will it translate into votes will be decided on May 12 alone, informed sources said. "These elections will either nail or resurrect BJP State president and chief ministerial candidate B.S. Yedyurappa's political career. The fact that Modi is taking time to rally in Karnataka itself is an indication of his understanding of the ground reality on the inability of the BJP state leaders to form the government. He would not like to have to take responsibility for the results," he added.