Bangalore: Post “unfavourable” results in the Lok Sabha election, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is under attack, not by the Opposition, but by the leaders of the ruling party who have openly questioned the popularity of the various schemes.
In addition, the Congress leaders are also asking whether Siddaramaiah is still enjoying the support of “Ahinda,” the Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits.
Sources in the party said not just Siddaramaiah, even KPCC chief G Parameshwara would also be questioned in the office bearers’ and executive committee meetings scheduled to be held in the coming weeks. “Ahinda” was considered as the CM’s strength. But in the LS elections, a majority of voters belonging to OBCs, minorities and Dalits have supported the BJP, they pointed out.
One leader who is articulate when it comes to expressing his apprehensions over the popularity of the schemes like “Anna Bhagya” is Tanveer Sait, an MLA from Mysore. In an interaction with Deccan Herald, he said: “The results may not be a referendum on the government in the State. But it is an indication that we should reconsider and redesign our schemes. We should work for more development and allow industries to come.
Time has come for the government and the party to do something constructive.” When asked whether it was time to reshuffle and expand the ministry, Sait said it is the prerogative of the chief minister. However, he added that experienced hands should be utilised by the government and the party.
While answering a query on “Ahinda’s” support to the Congress, Sait did not mince words. “‘Ahinda’ has failed before ‘Hindutva’. The results have showed that our schemes are not appreciated. And we do not enjoy the support of ‘Ahinda’,” he added.
MLA Koliwad, who is aspiring to become a minister, said the Siddaramaiah government must become more active and the party should be strengthened from the grassroot level. “The government programmes should be reviewed, revitalised and made visible. Inefficient people in the Cabinet should go. Time has come to reshuffle the Council of Ministers,” he added.
Former Union minister M Veerappa Moily had also suggested that the subsidy schemes of the government should be reviewed as they have failed to attract voters.
He had said that the government must be more visible and efficient. Even party general secretary B L Shankar had expressed similar views.
G Parameshwara had said he would soon convene a meeting of senior leaders to see the merits and demerits of various schemes launched by the government in the last one year.
