Congress leader and former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has said that he will become the chief minister of the state once again, triggering off huge speculation about the future course of action he would adopt while casting a shadow over the stability of the already troubled Janata Dal (Secular)- Congress coalition government in the state. He was speaking to reporters at Hadya in Holenarasipur taluk on Friday (24 August).

Suddharamiah admitted that he had been hoping to occupy the Chief Minister’s post after the recent Assembly elections. “But, all opponents joined hands only to stop me from becoming CM for a second consecutive term,” he said, in what was clearly a dig at his detractors within Congress . Hinting at possibility of new political realignment he also added that politics is “not stagnant, but flowing water”.

Ever since the Congress high command, in a desperate attempt to scuttle the formation of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in the state, decided to unilaterally play second fiddle to the JD(S) and offer chief ministership to Siddaramaiah’s bitter rival H D Kumaraswamy, the former CM has been sulking. In an attempt to mollify him, he was appointed as the chairman of the coordination and monitoring committee of the coalition government, but he has been unhappy with the coalition government.

Siddharamiah had also recently had expressed doubts on the longevity of Kumaraswamy led coalition government hinting that its survival beyond the upcoming General Elections in April would be tough.

Political observers in the state are of the view it will not be tough for Siddaramaiah to stoke dissidence as several Congress leaders, including legislators are up in arms against Kumaraswamy’s style of functioning. Many Congress state leaders believe that the party is not getting any ‘benefit’ from the coalition government.

State political circles is also agog with rumours that Senior Congress Leader and legislator from Belagavi district Sathish Jarkihol, who is leading a group of disgruntled 13 Congress MLAs, is planning to strike a deal with BJP and bring down the coalition government.