Is Mallikarjun Kharge still batting for Siddaramaiah?

Bengaluru: Is Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge still batting for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who defeated him in the contest for the CM post in 2013? At a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Kharge was all praise for former CM S.M. Krishna saying his tenure saw IT industries flourishing. When asked about Mr Siddaramaiah’s performance, Mr Kharge snapped back, “I am not a minister in the state cabinet to reply to this,” triggering doubts whether the Congress is a divided house two days before the BBMP polls.

Mr Kharge went overboard praising Mr Krishna who is missing from the BBMP poll scene this time. He asserted that only the Congress could bring back the good old days of Mr Krishna whose vision helped built Brand Bengaluru.

“It was eight years ago that Mr Krishna was at the helm of affairs and the city achieved several laurels because of his vision. Foreign dignitaries used to first fly down to Bengaluru and then visit other cities, such was the glory of Bengaluru, which was even accepted by then PM Atal Behari Vajpayee. Ministers felt they were part of a team and Mr Krishna their captain. Now voters have to repose the same faith in Congress candidates," he added.