The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Likely reshuffle in State Congress

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Monday, Nov 12, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Likely reshuffle in State Congress

T.S. Ranganna

Bangalore: With the revocation of President’s Rule in the State and with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) to form a government, the Congress is keen on injecting some young blood into its State unit.

According to several leaders in the State unit, the party now considers the issue of revamping the unit as urgent in order to take on the coalition, and dent the image of the BJP. It has been under pressure from the group, led by the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramiah, to do so.

Not to miss chance

The party, these leaders feel, should not miss the chance of cashing in on the serious differences between the BJP and JD (S). It was necessary for a leader committed to the cause of the Dalits, minorities and backward classes to counter the influence of the Chief Minister-designate B.S. Yeddyurappa, with his strong ideological background as a worker from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), they said.

The sources said that although a section of Congressmen have their reservations about accommodating “outsiders” who have “swamped” the party in recent years, the Congress central leadership is likely to field Mr. Siddaramiah, a strong backward class leader as the Leader of Opposition, replacing N. Dharam Singh. Other leaders such as R.V. Deshpande, D.K. Shivakumar and Ramesh Kumar are also reportedly making serious efforts to get the post.

In all likelihood, the sources said that the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee M. Mallikarjun Kharge would not be disturbed, but his hands would be strengthened with lieutenants from the powerful and resourceful Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities.

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