In a bid to challenge the ruling BJP's formidable ‘LKG’ coalition of Lingayats, Kurubas and Gowdas (Vokkaligas), the Congress is seriously considering forming a team of prominent leaders including external affairs minister, S.M. Krishna, Union labour minister Mallikarjun Kharge, Lingayat leader Shamanoor Shivashankarappa and Leader of the Opposition, Siddaramaiah so that the collective leadership can enlist the support of voters from different communities.
The Congress may constitute this all important committee once the Union government completes its cabinet reshuffle in the days to come. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a highly placed source in the party said, “We have to come out with a plan to woo a formidable combination of castes to win the 2013 Assembly elections. We are planning to rope in Mr Krishna for a major role and involve him in state affairs in a big way.”
The party had appointed Mr Krishna and Mr Kharge as heads of different divisions along with other Union ministers, M. Veerappa Moily and K.H. Muniyappa, about eight months ago.
“After Congress candidate Iqbal Ahmed Saradagi's defeat in the recent Legislative Council polls and the JD(S)’ massive minority rally, the party will have to work out a formidable caste combination to wrest votes of these communities and ensure they do not go to the BJP and JD(S),” the source explained.
Party central leaders may not go in for a change of guard in the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) as the party has never diluted the powers of Pradesh Congress Committees in the past. Instead, they may decide to form several important committees such as - Core Committee, Election Campaign Committee and Manifesto Committee ahead of the 2013 assembly elections.
"The party will adopt its time-tested social justice formula while making appointment to such committees.
As per this formula Mr Krishna, Mr Kharge, Mr Siddaramaiah and other important leaders like Shamanoor Shivashankarappa are likely to be appointed to these important committees in the days to come," the source explained.