Karnataka Congress:DKS or Siddu: who will win?

Karnataka State Congress is in deep crisis. Internal squabbling has made party weak over years. Externally both  the KPCC president DK Shivakumar and opposition leader in Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah gives a pose as if they are united in the fight against BJP government.But in reality they envy each other. First of all DK Shivakumar's selection as KPCC president by high command didn't bring cheers to Siddaramaiah gang. As Siddaramaiah is a seasoned politician he knows how to play his political game. He doesn't want to rub with DK Shivakumar unnecessarily. More over he wants to give a good impression to high command as if both are pulling on well with each other. Gandhis wanted a collective leadership to face the next assembly elections. Although DK Shivakumar is their blue eyed boy, they doesn't want any confrontation with bullying Siddaramaiah. This drama will be continued for some more time.

Whereas, DK Shivakumar enjoys the blessings of Gandhi's, also puts up his show accordingly to keep Siddaramaiah in good humor. He always consults him and take his blessings at right photo opportunity. Mysuru mayoral elections gave upper hand to DK Shivakumar. But he lost in youth congress elections. Shivakumar supported Mohammad Nalapad. But despite getting more votes, he was disqualified for having a criminal case pending against him. DK Shivakumar is still trying to impress the high command to get Nalapad's disqualification withdrawn. Although Shivakumar belongs to Vokkaliga community, unlike Devegowda he cannot call himself its undisputed leader. But he is successful in stalling Siddaramaiah's ahinda rallies. Opposition leader of Rajya Sabha Mallikarjuna Khage supports DK Shivakumar is a plus point for him. Recently at a public gathering, MLA Zameer Ahmed said he wanted to see Siddaramaiah as CM again. Shivakumar who was present at that meeting cooly said he is only building the party than nursing the ambition of becoming CM. This shows Shivakumar's soft pedaling unlike Siddaramaiah's gang. As of now, the high command may prefer DK Shivakumar over Siddaramaiah.

In fact, former CM Siddaramaiah is confident of congress coming back to power in 2023 and he is nourishing a dream to become Chief Minister once again. He is already promising many free bees to his ahinda group. Recently he declared that if he returns to power promises poor a free 10 kilo rice per head. In Mysore he indicated his ambition to become CM once again. He is also very forceful in attacking BJP governments both at State and Centre on relevant issues from time to time. Siddaramaiah is a old trojan  horse and knows the power of CM's post. But unfortunately, he is now no more undisputed leader of kurubas. He has last his hold over his own community in their recent agitation over scheduled tribe demand by remaining silent. He doesn't want his ahinda image to be erased for kurubas sake. Since1980 kurubas are baking him. Without their support his ambition cannot be achieved. Added to this drawback, Mysuru mayoral election was conducted against his wishes. He wants congress to sit in opposition but DK Shivakumar made a tie up with JDS to get deputy mayor post. Youth congress election also made Siddaramaiah angry over Shivakumar. These issues embarrassed Siddaramaiah. Also, minority vote base were given a wrong deal in both the cases.

The congress leadership has now asked both these leaders to stop internal fighting for supremacy in the party. This squabbling may threaten to dent  its poll  prospects in 2023 assembly elections. During Siddaramaiah's recent visit to New Delhi,  party leaders asked him to sort out any issues in the interest of the party. Apart from youth congress election where Siddaramaiah openly supported Raksha Ramaiah and got her elected disqualifying Mohammad Nalapad made  him victorious. This is where Siddaramaiah gained upper hand. Besides this senior leader CM Ibrahim has hinted at quitting congress to join JDS. These developments are seen as minority votes are drifting away from congress. If JDS splits minority votes, it will favour BJP. So, both the leaders have been warned to be careful and not to give scope for such possibilities in future. This ongoing cold war between DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah to establish their supremacy in the party with an eye on CM's chair will definitely diminishes its chance to return to power. If this cold war comes out then there will certainly be two groups fighting each other. Congress finally becomes divided house looses its chance of coming back to power again.