Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 30: Sources say that Congress national leadership has expressed itself in favour of entrusting state home ministry to D K Shivakumar, who has proved himself to be an able leader, and asserted his position as a reliable and loyal leader. It is gathered that the high command of the party has also sounded Siddaramaiah about its preference for Shivakumar, although it was said earlier that the chief minister is inclined to give this ministry to Ramanath Rai.

The party wants to reward Shivakumar with powerful home portfolio, which had fallen vacant after Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dr G Parameshwara, resigned from the post citing organizational responsibilities. Shivakumar had come to the rescue of the party when it was facing a crisis. When there was no one to fall back on to save Congress MLAs from being poached by the BJP, Shivakumar had come forward to provide them protection and keeping the flock together at a crucial juncture. The party is said to be eager to pay him back by elevating him to home ministry.

There is information that during the visit of national vice president of the party, Rahul Gandhi, to the city and Raichur recently, he had praised Shivakumar for the courage, shrewdness, and loyalty to the party he had displayed during the period he had to shield Gujarat MLAs carefully. He also had spoken to Shivakumar separately and indicated that the party wants to give him a more responsible position.

It is said that the chief minister has explained to the party high command that giving home ministry to Shivakumar at a time when assembly election is approaching might give rise to another controversy and as such, it would not be wise to make him home minister. He also is learnt to have argued that opposition BJP might capitalize on it and use it as an electoral issue as Shivakumar had recently been raided by income tax department. He also pointed out to the party that BJP has branded Shivakumar as corrupt and as such, there is a need to be very careful before taking a final decision on him.

Siddaramaiah favours Ramanath Rai as the home minister of the state, and he has advocated on behalf of Rai with the party leadership, it is said. Frenzied behind-the-scene activities are going on from both the sides, and the issue as who among the two will become the next home minister of Karnataka has aroused lot of curiousness. The ministry is currently with the chief minister himself.