BENGALURU: The main cause for Congress candidate C K Abdul Rehman Sharief’s defeat in the recent bypoll to Hebbal Assembly constituency is out: some local leaders of the ruling party turned neutral just to make sure that energy minister, D. K. Shiva Kumar, does not secure a grip over the city unit as well as emerge as a leader of Vokkaligas in urban areas.
Sources in the party said camp-followers of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and city unit leaders were averse to the idea that Mr Shiva Kumar would walk away with the credit of ensuring victory of the party candidate.
Therefore, both camps reportedly executed their plan by orchestrating the defeat of Mr Abdul Rehman Sharief. Besides, both camps “misguided” the minister by suggesting the names of ‘non-working’ leaders in each booth instead of suggesting names of leaders who could deliver at the last minute.
“Mr Shivakumar was under the impression that the list of workers he was given by these leaders might be genuine though he could not verify each and every leader’s background due to paucity of time. This was evident, when results were declared that most of the pockets where traditional voters of Congress resided did not show much enthusiasm by turning up to vote. These groups also succeeded in convincing every leader that “low vote turn out” would be beneficial to the party's victory, thus Congress became relaxed at the last minute, whereas BJP candidate, Y. A. Narayanswamy was going round the constituency and kept communication channels with his voters open,” sources added.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader of the ruling party said that a section of leaders feared that Mr Shiva kumar would emerge as their rival, as he had a record of winning Assembly seat six times in a row as well as he is “highly resourceful” person.
“Already two power centres exist in Bengaluru in the form a group led by Transport minister, R. Ramalinga Reddy and another by All-India Congress Committee general secretary, B. K. Hariprasad, who is powerful at the central level.
Now, a victory in Hebbal would have paved the way for creating another power centre in the form of Mr Shiva Kumar. As of now, no leaders in Bengaluru are ready to accept it. Therefore, they worked to ensure that Mr Shiva Kumar does not take the credit for victory,” the leader added.
Mr Abdul Rehman Sharief, who unsuccessfully contested Assembly polls from the same constituency in 2013, was the choice of central leader of Congress though the state unit had recommended Mr Siddaramaiah’s billionaire buddy Byrathi Suresh, MLC.
He was defeated by Mr Narayanswamy, also an MLC of Bharatiya Janata Party by over 19,000 votes much to the embarrassment of leaders of the ruling party.
The constituency was previously represented by Bharatiya Janata Party legislator R Jagadish Kumar.
