Karnataka - Madikeri   

Embarrassment in the offing?

Staff Correspondent

Subbaiah's elevation in Siddaramaiah's faction may impact M.C. Nanaiah's entry

MADIKERI: The announcement by the Siddaramaiah faction of the Janata Dal (Secular) that former MLC A.K. Subbaiah will be its State unit spokesman and lead the publicity campaign, is being looked at with surprise in Kodagu. Mr. Subbaiah, who till recently was with the Janata Dal (S) led by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, was removed from the party for rebelling against its leadership.

Mr. Subbaiah's relationship with the Janata Dal (S) under Mr. Deve Gowda ran into trouble when the former was asked to contest the Mangalore Lok Sabha seat in the previous elections. Mr. Subbaiah accused Mr. Deve Gowda of ignoring him by not visiting his constituency to woo voters for the Janata Dal (S). On the other hand, it is said that Mr. Deve Gowda's group supported the BJP candidate D.V. Sadananda Gowda, who won the election. Mr. Subbaiah alleges that Mr. Sadananda Gowda was supported by the Janata Dal (S) as he and Mr. Deve Gowda belong to the same caste.

In the event of his defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, it is said that Mr. Deve Gowda had promised Mr. Subbaiah a seat in the Rajya Sabha, which did not come through. Mr. Subbaiah's outbursts angered Mr. Deve Gowda, which lead to his removal from the party along with other leaders, including former MP P. Kodandaramaiah, former Minister Vaijanath Patil and others.

Rumours

There are rumours that former Minister M.C. Nanaiah and his supporters in Kodagu are considering joining the Siddaramaiah faction. Two meetings are said to have taken place in Madikeri in this regard. However, no one in the M.C. Nanaiah group is ready to go public over the issue. The supporters of Mr. Nanaiah have left the matter to their leader. While Mr. Nanaiah is yet to identify himself openly with AHINDA, Mr. Subbaiah is taking active part in the movement.

If Mr. Nanaiah joins hands with the Siddaramaiah group, it could lead to an embarrassment as Mr. Subbaiah and the former do not have a happy political relationship.

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Embarrassment in the offing?

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