Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (AM)

Bengaluru, Jan 4: Trouble is looming large on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah along with the ruling Congress party in the State. The untimely demise of Cooperation Minister H S Mahadeva Prasad and CM’s confidant V Srinivas Prasad quitting the Congress and joining the BJP has landed a solid blow on Siddaramaiah.

Mahadeva Prasad (58), a Lingayat, was very close to Siddaramaiah as they were in the Janata Dal together and later in the JD(S). Siddaramaiah and Mahadeva Prasad joined the Congress in 2007. With the death of Mahadeva Prasad, who was very close with Siddaramaiah for more than two decades, the CM not only lost  a close friend, but also his political strategist for Chamarajanagar district. 

Mahadeva Prasad and Srinivas Prasad who were representing Gundlupet and Nanjangudu Assembly constituencies respectively are no more with the Congress. The by-election to both the constituencies will be a touch challenge for Siddaramaiah. Both Mahadeva Prasad and Srinivas Prasad were the reason for Congress's success in Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha constituency when Congress candidate R Dhruvanarayana got elected in the 2014 elections.       

“He was one of my closest friends. He was very honest person. His demise is a great loss to me personally,” Siddaramaiah acknowledged in his condolence message.

It is also revealed that the CM and Mahadeva Prasad were together on December 31 for New Year celebrations.  They had been together for New Year celebrations for past 15 years.

The by-polls for the Gundlupet and Nanjangudu Assembly constituencies respectively will surely be trial by fire for CM Siddaramaiah and the ruling Congress in Karnataka.