When Siddaramaiah took charge as the Chief Minister, there was a heavy baggage of high expectations riding on the Siddaramaiah government, especially because he had taken over the self-destructed BJP. He was perceived as an unconventional leader and many expected him to follow the footsteps of former chief minister Devaraj Urs. However, a sense of delusionment started growing as a result of the way things slipped out in the party. So far, we can only conclude that the Congress’ performance under Mr Siddaramaiah has been a great disappointment.
In every political party, visions are aplenty, but the Congress inner party is in a shambles. Though for long Congress rode on the clean image of Siddaramaiah and his populist schemes, the party has had its fair share of embarrassing episodes. For instance, the tussle for ticket between B. Janardhana Poojary and former Union minister Veerapa Moily's son Harsha Moily in Daskhin Kannada almost spilled on to the streets. And a similar episode followed when Siddaramaiah announced the formation of Anti-Corruption Bureau in the state.
Justice Santosh Hegde has cried from the rooftops that the Karnataka Lokayukta Act of 1986 is the best one we have in the country. Yet the Congress government decided that if by some unfortunate twist of destiny the Karnataka Legislature gave the Lokayukta teeth in 1986 – it’s now time to remove the same and fit a beautiful set of dentures now to be called the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
This, again, did not go well with many party men and we saw some veteran leaders openly critiquing Siddaramaiah. With reports that 25 Congressmen even approached the high command against this move, it was evident that this government too was not free from inner conflicts. Among many criticisms that have Siddaramaiah’s way, his support for populist schemes did not go too well with all.
As soon as he assumed office, Siddaramaiah announced Rs 10,500-crore package of sops for weaker sections and farmers. Since majority of voters are in rural areas, the economically-weaker are the people who look for social security and pin their hopes on Anna Bhagya and similar schemes. However, a deep concern along with these schemes has been that Siddaramaiah has neglected critical issues like health and education and for that matter even conservation of water resources has not got its due attention. Multiple changes are needed at different levels and analytical clarity is much needed. Some of the social security schemes have not been implemented and there is falter in many issues. Although Siddaramaiah is one of the very few chief ministers to pay attention to the budget and is known for his unconventional style of presenting the budget, there have been failures in the implementation of some of his populist schemes.
His interest to strengthen the populist schemes at some point has let people believe he was disinterested in urban development. When there was an exodus of industries in Karnataka, it was said that even the high command did not worry about the pro-rural image of Siddaramaiah. Despite the government announcing it had approved over Rs 97,000 crore worth of projects and generated 2.27 lakh employment, many industries decided to move out of the state.
For now, if the Siddaramaiah government has to reinvent the wheel, it can start with re-creating a truly popular institution which will work – even against a Chief Minister. It should focus on the Lokayukta and appoint Justice Santosh Hegde as a one-man commission to suggest amendments to the present Lokayukta Act of Karnataka. And I am sure it can be done in less than a week. But why will the political class do this? Kill the goose that lays golden eggs?
Can the people’s movement give such a mandate to this Judge? Yes but only if the people’s movement is a mass movement that engulfs all of Karnataka and persuades him to deliver us from all evil.
So where does all this take the Congress? Supporters of Siddaramaiah, who holds his card as a Backward Caste leader, claim that his pushing the ‘Ahinda’ policy has helped to take on the BJP's support base largely made up of the upper castes.
Well, it’s the ordinary people who have saved the democracy and until the eve of elections, the future of a party is less known. There is time for Siddaramaiah and his cabinet crew to make or break the Congress image in the next two years.
