Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS) 

Bengaluru, Jul 7: The sudden and unexpected developments in the political scenario of the state have left many people guessing as to what caused the turmoil. Though there was a rumour making rounds for quite some time that a handful of disgruntled MLAs of Congress will quit the party, the fallout of 11 MLAs was definitely not expected. 

Another important factor is that all the MLAs of Congress, who have resigned are the close confidants of former chief minister (CM) Siddaramaiah. This has pointed fingers towards the former CM and some suspect that Siddaramaiah knew about this happening beforehand. Of late, Siddaramaiah is repeatedly saying that the coalition is neither going to benefit him nor the Congress party. This has also caused many to suspect that Siddaramaiah is the kingpin of the present chaos. 

Sources in the party also have confirmed that Siddaramaiah was the one who was not at all happy with the coalition after the debacle of the party in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. He had raised this point also with Rahul Gandhi, the then president of AICC also. It is also believed that he had confided in his close confidants that he will be the opposition leader in the state assembly from June 10. In addition, the MLAs and ministers of the Congress party, who are in the coalition government, have always openly supported Siddaramaiah, saying that he should be the chief minister of the state and not Kumaraswamy. 

Contrary to the above, one faction of the Congress party believes that this spree of resignations is just a gimmick to pressurize the top leaders of the Congress party to give cabinet berth to certain senior leaders of the party. If the ploy works then Basavaraj, Somashekhar and Muniratna may take back their resignations. 

It is also said that the top national leaders of the Congress party are mulling to give the leadership of the party in Karnataka to veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge to diffuse the crisis. According some inner sources of the party, the party high command has already conveyed the message to the rebel MLAs that Kharge, who belongs to the Dalit community, will be made the chief minister since they want a Congress person to be at the top of affairs in the coalition government. One leader, who wanted to remain anonymous said, "No one will dare to topple a government that is headed by a Dalit and no one will oppose a Dalit CM." 

Only the next few days will tell what is in store for the people of Karnataka.