Board posts: Siddaramaiah ploy to quell rebellion

BENGALURU: In an effort to contain growing discontent within the ruling Congress in the wake of reshuffle of his ministry Chief Minister  Siddaramaiah and his camp followers are evidently adopting the carrot-and-stick policy to placate unsuccessful aspirants among legislators.

While the Chief Minister has reportedly assured many legislators that he would appoint them as chairmen of various state-owned boards and corporations after August but has also warned them in no uncertain terms that he would have no choice but to halt the flow of funds to their respective constituencies in case they carried on with their rebellion.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader said: “Mr Siddaramaiah knows that he has succeeded in garnering the support of central leaders in New Delhi to carry out a major surgery of his cabinet. Now, he knows he is firmly placed on a saddle, and will assert himself in future.

He also knows how to bulldoze rebels. Therefore, he might try hard to convince rebel MLAs one by one, but for those who do not fall inline, he will adopt time the tested strategy of stopping the flow of funds to their constituencies.”

The leader added that Mr Siddaramaiah was deliberately keeping quiet at this juncture and allowing rebels to raise their voice, and when the opportunity arises, he would convince central leaders to appoint such vocal legislators as chairpersons of boards and corporations.

Interestingly, most MLAs who are raising the banner of revolt belong to his coterie, including S. T. Somashekhar or Byrathy Basavaraju. Once their number swells, he will put forward a formula to defuse the dissent,” the leader added.  

The leader pointed out that Mr Siddaramaiah lost out to KPCC president, Dr G. Parameshwar when the first set of appointments was made to state-owned boards and corporations. He was keen to appoint MLAs but party vice president Rahul Gandhi backed Dr Parameshwara and cleared his list.

Anti-superstition bill on the anvil
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday that his government will soon bring the Anti-superstition bill to curb illegal social beliefs and practices in the state. Inaugurating the 125th birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, organized by pontiffs of progressive maths in the state here, Mr Siddaramaiah said his government is against such practices.

“Vested interests are opposing our decision. We are not opposing beliefs of people but opposing those which go against the interests of society,” he said.

The CM requested the pontiffs of progressive maths to enlighten people on superstition. “There is a belief in political circles that if the CM visits Chamarajanagar district, he or she will lose power. So many former CMs had avoided a visit to Chamarajanagar. However, I  visited Chamarajanagar six  times and I continue to remain CM,” he said.