Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, it appears, is banking on more than just people’s goodwill to return to power in Karnataka come May 12. Working behind the scenes is reportedly a one- man army, retired IPS officer, Kempaiah, who has been meticulously strategising to make the Kuruba strongman Chief Minister again.
Going by official sources in the government, Mr Kempaiah has been planning and executing his strategy for the last six months . The former police officer, who has served as security advisor to the Home Minister, has been a law unto himself and even when the Election Commission recently had misgivings about his role after the model code of conduct came into force, Mr Siddaramaiah is reported to have brushed them aside politely when they were brought to his notice by a senior IAS officer. He is said to have asked the officer not to worry about Mr Kempaiah, who too is a Kuruba like him.
The ex-IPS officer's strategy has reportedly revolved around identifying constituencies where community leaders have a hold over their people either on account of caste or the respect they command and approaching them almost six months ahead of the polls to work for Mr Siddaramaiah.
“Some trade-offs may have taken place in the process, but the relationships built have been followed up through different channels so that the local leaders don’t ditch Mr Siddaramaiah and influence people to vote for the local Congress candidates," explain sources, claiming the tactic is expected to pay dividends for the ruling Congress in serveral constituencies.
Being a former police officer, Mr Kempaiah is said to have used both serving and retired police officials, besides trusted Kuruba leaders to carry out his strategy.
