Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, who was gearing up to assume the mantle of the Congress’ chief ministerial candidate with the backing of the Other Backward Communities(OBCs), seems to have changed his strategy. Fearing that the powerful combine of external affairs minister S.M. Krishna and KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar might upset his chances, Mr Siddaramaiah has reportedly changed his plans and has now decided to align with the Lingayat leaders in the Congress.
Earlier, Mr Siddaramaiah had held a Kuruba convention at Davangere and had worked out a detailed plan to emerge as an OBC, SC, ST and minority community leader. However, of late, he seems to have realised that his plan might not work to get him the CM post particularly after Vokkaliga MLAs requested Mr Krishna to make a comeback to state politics. While Lingayat leaders were meeting in a hotel on Wednesday, Mr Krishna was huddled with Vokkaliga MLAs. Mr Siddaramaiah seems to be more worried particularly after the appeal by Vokkaliga legislators to Mr Krishna.
Mr Siddaramaiah even turned up at the meeting of Lingayat MLAs held at a private hotel on Tuesday night. Sources in the party said that Lingayats are projecting former KPCC treasurer Shamanoor Shivashankarappa for the KPCC president’s post. Mr Siddaramaiah might have felt that being with the Lingayat camp may keep alive his chances of becoming chief minister if the Congress comes to power in the 2013 Assembly polls, sources said.Sources close to Siddu have reportedly told him that Mr Krishna may be using Dr Parameshwar to take control of the party. “Therefore, Mr Siddaramaiah has no option but to realign with another dominant caste-the Lingayats,” the sources said.