Bengaluru: Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has quietly begun a state-wide tour to assess the damage caused by the recent floods and drought and also prepare the Congress for the 17 assembly bypolls that have been thrust on the state following the resignation of both its legislators and those of the JD(S).
Having set off on his tour without any pomp or publicity from Bagalkot, he has already covered Vijayapura, Gadag, Haveri, Belagavi, Raichur, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Kodagu, that were flooded in the recent rain, according to sources close to him. The next leg of his tour will cover Kalaburagi, Bidar, Yadgir, Chitradurga, Kolar, Chikballapur and other districts, which are suffering a severe drought.
The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader reportedly plans to compile the data from his tour to “expose the Yediyurappa government’s inept handling of the twin disasters” on the floor of the legislature.
He also hopes to strengthen the party at the grassroots as he feels that mid-term polls may be imminent in the state as the fate of the government hinges on the support of the 17 disqualified legislators, whose cased is still pending before the Supreme Court and two independent members, say his supporters.
“Mr Siddaramaiah is focusing on the bypolls because he wants to defeat all defectors in their respective constituencies and teach them a lesson. And with the morale of Congress leaders having taken a severe beating after its dismal performance in the 2018 assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he is hoping to re-invigorate the party cadre and establish a good rapport with the people,” they explain.
