SIDDARAMAIAH-DKS DUEL MAY COST CONGRESS DEAR IN RS POLLS

Amid rumours of “Operation Lotus 2.0” being back on Karnataka BJP’s table, the coming elections for the four Rajya Sabha seats in the state on 27 February may end up exposing the perceived discord within the ruling Congress, as some upset party legislators, sore over stalled development works in their constituencies and tired of the power struggle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D.K. Shivakumar, may spring a surprise with cross-voting, a source said.

- RAHUL CHHABRA

 

Ex-Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar rejoining the BJP from the Congress last month is being seen by some observers as the first step towards “Operation Lotus 2.0”, which may still be a “work in progress” but has the potential to force a showdown in the Assembly for the Siddaramaiah government later this month, almost coinciding with upset results for the Congress in the RS elections, said party insiders.

More disgruntled MLAs from the Congress are believed to be in touch with unnamed BJP leaders to switch flanks or quit the Assembly en masse, to pave the way for Siddaramaiah’s exit, said a Congress leader.