Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP) 

Bengaluru, Jul 25: During the last 14 months, there had been fight for the post of the minister and portfolios within the Congress. After the trust vote debacle, the focus has shifted to fight for the post of the leader of the opposition in the assembly. 

On the very next day after the coalition government crumbled, a meeting of important Congress leaders was held at the office of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office. At the meeting, the issue of leader of the opposition also came up for discussion. Although it is almost certain that former chief minister, Siddaramaiah, would be the automatic choice for this post, it is said that deputy chief minister, Dr G Parameshwara, and former minister, D K Shivakumar, indirectly lobbied for the post. 

Both the leaders placed their views at the meeting. As both of them have clout at the national level, they plan to bring pressure to choose them through party leadership at New Delhi. Both will be using their political acumen to score over Siddaramaiah. 

Both feel that leader of the opposition is likely to be chosen as the chief minister if the Congress comes to power in the state in future. Reports say that Shivakumar has also elaborated to the high command about the sacrifices he made during a year for the party and the efforts he put to negate Operation Lotus initiative of the BJP. Parameshwara is said to have reminded the national leaders about the loyalty to the party and the way he managed the position of the president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. 

The Congress is currently in need of a mass leader who can put the ruling party in a fix on day to day basis. Siddaramaiah has this capacity. The party leadership is appreciative of the way in which he held the Yeddyurappa-led government in a bind as leader of the opposition, and as such the party seems to be in favour of choosing him to the post over the other claimants. 

Although Siddaramaiah is aware that he has competitors to the above post he has not been indulging in any maneuvers to project himself as a prospective opposition leader. It is said that some national level leader including state Congress in-charge, K C Venugopal, held consultation with Siddaramaiah in this issue, they did not give any hint about what is in their mind. Sources said that Siddaramaiah told the leaders that he has been shocked by the resignations of certain legislators who were close to him and because of this, he has decided not to rightfully place his demand for the post. However, he clarified that if the high command gives him this responsibility, he is ready to discharge it.