Siddaramaiah’s padyatra hesitation gives DKS chance for grand entrance

Siddaramaiah's walkathon from Bellari to Bengaluru in 2010 had been largely credited with the Congress party securing a majority in the assembly elections in 2013. In a bid to replicate the strategy, Siddaramaiah plans to lead a padayatra from Belagavi to Bengaluru. But his plans have hit a roadblock this time.

Siddaramaiah reportedly expressed hesitation

The Congress has been agitating against the State and Central government over the flood relief and rehabilitation efforts and release of funds and with this padayatra hopes to galvanize public opinion in its favour. The party leaders had entrusted Siddaramaiah with the task of leading this effort but he had reportedly expressed hesitation in undertaking the 520 km stretch by foot. 

With DK Shivakumar out on bail now, the party high command has decided to also include him in the padayatra along with other senior leaders like KPCC president and working president, Dinesh Gundurao and Eashwar Khandre. The padayatra is now to be flagged off by Siddaramaiah in Belagavi but after he finishes the first lap, DK Shivakumar will take over from there and then other leaders are to follow after him.

Siddaramaiah camp rattled

Just before the ED arrested DK Shivakumar on September 3, there was a high-pitched battle for a change of guard in the state Congress, with DK Shivakumar lobbying for the post of KPCC president. Now, as he is out on bail, the clamour has begun for him to lead the fight in Karnataka, leaving Siddaramaiah camp rattled.

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In 2010, Siddaramaiah, along with several other party leaders, undertook a 320 kilometre ‘Bellary Chalo’ padayatra which had commenced on July 25 and concluded on August 9th against the then government, also led by BS Yediyurappa. The pivotal issue was the mining scams that the Reddy brothers were allegedly involved in. And this padayatra is seen as being largely responsible for securing the Congress an absolute majority in the 2013 assembly polls.

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Alliance with JDS had done immense damage to Congress

This time, the padayatra was as much to catapult Siddaramaiah as the tallest leader of the state, for him to justify his position as the leader of the Opposition-  for which he had to put up a stiff fight with his party colleagues-as much as it is to energise the cadre against BJP. The alliance with the JDS had done immense damage to the Congress and had reportedly weakened the grassroots level as well getting it demoralised. The party high command had entrusted Siddaramiah with the task of equipping the state unit for the bypolls slated for December 5, a chance for Congress to attempt to topple the Yediyurappa government if they secure over 10 seats.

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