BENGALURU: Taking serious note of dissident activities of the troika of former ministers - M. H. Ambreesh, V. Srinivas Prasad and Qamrul Islam, Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, seems to have blinked first and decided to constitute a three-minister team to tackle the crisis on Friday.
The team comprised of energy minister, D. K. Shivakumar, PWD minister, Dr H. C. Mahadevappa and urban development minister, R. Roshan Baig.
Speaking to DC, a senior leader observed that Mr Siddaramaiah took this step soon after a section of central leaders expressed deep concern over rising dissidence after carrying out the cabinet reshuffle exercise early this week.
“Central leaders reportedly directed Mr Siddaramaiah to take steps to defuse the crisis and that it would be in the party interest that he should defuse the crisis and control the damage done after the cabinet reshuffle," this was the instruction reportedly conveyed to Mr Siddaramaiah through party president's political secretary, Ahmed Patel on Thursday night.
Soon after Mr Siddaramaiah got these instructions, on Friday he chose to host a breakfast meeting for senior cabinet colleagues over otherwise a "silly issue" of holding a video-conference with deputy commissioners.
The direct outcome of this meeting was that he constituted three-member ministers' group in order to tackle leaders who are potential enough to cause major upset in their home districts if not across the state.
"As part of this, Mr Baig will be tackling Mr Islam, Dr Mahadevappa will deal with Mr Prasad and lastly, Mr Shivakumar will be bargaining with Mr Ambreesh to buy peace in the days to come," the leader explained.
Apart from this, majority of senior ministers were also of the opinion that the CM must try and talk on one-on-one- basis in order to break the growing strength of rebels, while few were of the opinion that Mr Siddaramaiah personally not hold talks with leaders like M. H. Ambreesh, V. Srinivas Prasad and other seniors who have rebelled, and instead a adopt wait and watch policy against such senior leaders.
"If we talk anything against senior leaders like Mr Prasad or Mr Ambreesh, it will not go down well with their supporters instead, allow them to vent their ire instead of going ballistic against these leaders," the leader told this newspaper on the condition of anonymity.
The leader added that Mr Siddaramaiah had commenced the exercise of contacting few legislators such as former ministers Malikayya Guttedar and Dr A. B. Malakareddy but both have reportedly not only curtly disconnected his calls but also refused meet his emissaries too.
Later, after the meeting, down playing the present crisis, energy minister, D. K. Shivakumar said, "No legislator is indulged in any anti-party activities but some of our senior legislators feel that they been let down.
"Be it former union minister, S. M. Krishna or Mr Prasad have not indulged in anti-party activity. They are our senior leaders and all of them have sacrificed their life long aspirations on many occasions and still they have stood with our party. They will remain so. Let us not talk about Mr Prasad or Mr Krishna here," he said.
In response to a question, Mr Shivakumar said, "there was no injustice for Vokkaliga community in the party. The community had got its representation. If need be, the party will take its corrective steps in the days to come. Hence, it would not be appropriate to drag a particular community or leaders name is this issue."
CM takes the wind out of rebels’ sails
Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah’s strategy to expedite the process of appointing party legislators to various boards and corporations, seems to have hit the plan drawn up by Congress rebels.
Sources in the Congress told Deccan Chronicle that Mr Siddaramaiah was calling up upset party legislators and promising them boards and corporation chairman posts. As a result, many young legislators who were annoyed with Mr Siddaramaiah, seem to be ready to return to the Siddu camp for the sake of power. This has turned out to be a major road block for the rebels, sources said.
The issue was discussed at length at a meeting held between rebels Qamarul Islam, Dr A.B. Maalak Reddy, V. Srinivas Prasad and M.H. Ambareesh here on Friday. The rebel leaders reportedly decided to go slow for some time till the appointments are over. Once the process is completed, the rebels would devise their strategy, sources said.
On Saturday, the rebels are planning to meet party veteran S.M. Krishna who has had an uneasy relationship with Mr Siddaramaiah. Mr Krishna had reportedly expressed sympathy for the rebels’ cause. One of the members of the Congress rebel group, Dr A.B. Maalak Reddy had met Mr Krishna two days back and discussed the cabinet reshuffle.
