Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 27: To manage Congress-JD(S) alliance in a better way, the Congress leadership, it is said, is keenly considering the prospects of giving veteran Congressman and leader of Congress parliamentary party in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, a better say in state matters. Considering the uneasy relationship Siddaramaiah shares with JD(S) leaders, H D Kumaraswamy and H D Deve Gowda, the party leadership believes that his services could be better used at national level.

The party is badly in need of a leader who is shrewd and experienced, who at the same time, can strike cordial relationship with JD(S) as the party does not enjoy absolute majority in Karnataka. Going by the past history, Siddaramaiah, who was once a part of JD(S), had fallen off with Deve Gowda and joined Congress, thus antagonizing the former Prime Minister. Siddaramaiah has traded many charges against Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy while maintaining good relationship with Deve Gowda's other son, Revanna, who is an MLA.

Mallikarjun Kharge and Siddaramaiah 

The party high command, with the above measure, hopes to ensure that personal rivalry between leaders does not vitiate atmosphere in running the government. The party leadership, it is said, wants to give the post of the president of the coordination committee of the two parties to Kharge. This step, if taken, does not ruffle the feathers of Siddaramaiah, the leaders believe.

Kharge had been eying the post of the chief minister (CM) of Karnataka since the last several years, but the central leadership used his services at the centre. Just before the election, the idea of Dalit CM was also coined by a section of the party probably with the aim of projecting Kharge as future CM. Kharge, the party circles hope, will not reject the current proposal as he is interested in playing a major role in state politics and has good rapport with state Congress leaders. The party's think tank also feels that by fighting the next election under Kharge, it can consolidate Dalit votes in its favour.

Siddaramaiah had once fought the Lok Sabha election and was defeated. Reportedly, Congress national president, Rahul Gandhi, has plans of using Siddaramaih’s services at the centre but reportedly Siddaramaiah has not shown interest in this proposal as he wants to remain in state politics. At the same time, Siddaramaiah also knows that it would be difficult for him to coordinate with Kharge once he comes here. A clear picture is likely to emerge within a week on this front.