Congress MLAs worried tussle could hurt prospects in next election | Bengaluru News

Belagavi: The ongoing tussle between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar over the chief minister’s post has caused unease among a large section of ruling Congress MLAs, who say that besides hindering governance, it could have an adverse impact on their electoral prospects in the next assembly elections.Competing claims by Shivakumar’s and Siddaramaiah’s supporters have led to the emergence of at least three factions, with a group of Dalit ministers also coming together to demand the top post for one from their community.The widening rift was evident on the sidelines of the ‘Vote Chori’ rally in New Delhi Sunday, where Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar held separate breakfast meetings with their respective supporters. The chief minister was notably absent from the luncheon hosted by Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and did not speak at the rally either.Against this backdrop, legislators who have maintained a neutral stand have cautioned the party’s high command against further delay in resolving the issue.The matter was raised during the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting in Belagavi last week, where MLAs urged brass to settle the issue quickly. Several legislators warned that an over-reliance on the govt’s guarantee schemes, without clarity on the tussle, could prove detrimental to the party.“As the governing party, we will face anti-incumbency,” said KY Nanje Gowda, Malur MLA, who raised concerns over the guarantees and political challenges during the CLP meeting. “The worry is that it would get stronger if the prevailing political situation in the party continues.”Gowda said MLAs were finding it increasingly difficult to face voters and respond to questions about stalled development works. While Siddaramaiah is said to have assured legislators of releasing pending development funds, several MLAs privately admitted that assurances and the release of limited funds would not be sufficient unless uncertainty over the CM post is addressed.While the anti-incumbency factor is normally assessed towards the end of a five-year term, Congress appears to be confronting this challenge much earlier. Sources say some MLAs are even exploring alternative political strategies, including distancing themselves from the party.This comes at a time when principal opposition BJP is seeking to strengthen NDA along with its ally JD(S), and is reportedly looking to poach Congress MLAs with strong electoral prospects.“It is not that the opposition is pointing fingers at the govt’s overall failure,” said BJP state president BY Vijayendra. “It is evident that many Congress MLAs are unhappy with the present dispensation and people are eager to vote out the Siddramaiah-led govt.”Several senior Congress members have echoed the concerns raised by the neutral camp. “It is quite natural that MLAs are concerned about their future,” said RV Deshpande, former minister and Haliyal MLA. “It is not advisable to allow the situation to grow worse, and the high command should step in at the earliest.”However, a resolution to the crisis appears distant, with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge emerging as a potential contender amid the SC-ST camp’s push for a Dalit chief minister.Alarmed by these developments, legislators from the neutral camp are planning to travel to New Delhi after the ongoing Belagavi session to meet the party high command and press for an early resolution.