Bengaluru: After being unceremoniously dropped from the state Cabinet, Qamarul Islam is virtually being 'kicked upstairs.' The popular Muslim leader from Hyderabad-Karnataka is being placated with an AICC post and could even be designated to play a pivotal role in the Congress campaign in the 2017 UP elections considering that he is fluent in Urdu.
Riding on the promises made by the high command, the former wakf minister declared on Thursday that he could not support any demand for replacing Mr Siddaramaiah as CM - something the rebel MLAs led by former revenue minister V. Srinivas Prasad, have been campaigning for. Qamarul's exit from the rebel camp is a significant victory for the CM as it will substantially weaken the dissidence.
"For the sake of my community, I am ready to work for the party and with Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress leader in Lok Sabha)," said Mr Islam. And the reason for his change of heart? "Our top brass and the CM have agreed to consider my request to give more representation to Muslims from Mumbai-Karnataka and Hyderabad Karnataka," he said. Party sources did not rule out the possibility of his son and followers being offered board chairman posts.
Meanwhile, AICC secretary Chellakumar tried to dissuade another dropped minister, M.H. Ambareesh, from resigning from the state Assembly but was unsuccessful.
Waiting for a Vokkaliga
Qamarul Islam would have loved to return to the Cabinet but this is unlikely to happen with the Vokkaliga community angling for the only vacant berth in the Siddaramaiah ministry. Sources said the Vokkaligas, who are second only to the majority Lingayat community in numbers, are sure to turn their back on the Congress if their representation in the Cabinet remains at a paltry two. This could spell disaster for the party in coming elections, especially in the Old Mysuru region. Energy Minister and Vokkaliga strongman D.K. Shivakumar has made it clear to the party top brass that a Vokkaliga would have to be accommodated in the only slot left. Two of the dropped ministers belong to the Vokkaliga community.
Congress leaders buy peace with Qamar
Former wakf minister Qamarul Islam succeeded in driving home a message to the Congress top brass and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that the Muslim community in Bombay-Karnataka and Hyderabad-Karnataka had gone unrepresented in the state cabinet after the reshuffle. This forced the leadership to make peace with him by offering him a party post if not a Cabinet berth.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and ministers D.K. Shivakumar and H.S. Mahadev Prasad at Bangalore Dairy’s new unit at Hoskote on Thursday. (Photo: DC)
Imams help
Sources said that Qamarul got Imams to speak about this issue of the Congress neglecting Muslims of these two regions, after the prayers last Friday.
He was planning to do it this Friday too but Congress leaders, on realizing the damage it could do to their support base in these regions, made him relent and cut his ties with the rebel camp led by former revenue minister V. Srinivas Prasad.
Sources in the party however, did not rule out the possibility of Qamarul being ‘trapped’ by Mr Siddaramaiah. During a meeting, Mr Siddaramaiah gave him the impression that he would get back his Cabinet berth. Mr Islam reportedly gave in and addressed the media to announce his loyalty to the Chief Minister.
Qamarul now cannot go back on his word of supporting the chief minister and Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, whom he had earlier blamed for his exit from the ministry. “If he fails to get a Cabinet berth and goes back to the rebel camp, he will lose his credibility in the community. That’s exactly what a section of Congress leaders particularly the Kharge camp, want to happen,” sources explained
Congress ‘rebel star’ sticks to his stand
AICC secretary Challakumar was unsuccessful in persuading another dropped minister, M.H. Ambareesh to withdraw his decision to resign from the assembly membership. During the cabinet reshuffle which happened almost two weeks back, Mr Ambareesh was dropped from the cabinet and had later announced his decision to quit the Assembly.
M.H. Ambareesh
Mr Challakumar who seems to be on a mission to gauge the intensity of the rebellion in Karnataka, tried to reach rebel leader V. Srinivas Prasad over phone besides meeting Mr Ambareesh and other MLAs. Since the majority of the MLAs were out of the state capital, he focussed on trying to placate Qamarul Islam and Mr Ambareesh. He managed to get Mr Islam back in the party camp but remained unsuccessful in persuading Mr Ambareesh.
Mr Kumar tried to contact Mr Prasad who was in Mysuru, but he did not return the call, sources in the party said. Mr Kumar who met Mr Ambareesh on Wednesday night returned empty handed. He went back to Mr Ambareesh again on Thursday evening and held talks but Mr Ambareesh was unmoved.
Meanwhile, Mr Prasad has planned protests on July 10 both in Chamaraj Nagar and Mysuru. A big protest rally will be held in Mysuru besides protests across the two districts. Sources in the Congress party said that the district administration has been directed by the government not to give permission for any protest by the rebel group. “That will make it difficult for the rebels to make their protest a big affair,” sources explained.
