Buoyed by the Congress’s victory in byelections to three Legislative Assembly seats, the party has now decided to hold a mega convention on December 5 in Hassan, a fortress of its arch rival Janata Dal (Secular).
Ahead of the winter session of the legislature in Belagavi, which is likely to be stormy, the party’s backward class leaders have decided to hold the convention in a move to rebuild the image of the government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Show of strength
The convention would be largely seen as a show of strength by the Chief Minister, seen as a champion of the backward classes and the poor by implementing the guarantee schemes, despite opposition by some legislators of his own party.
Mr. Siddaramaiah who called on Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and AICC president M. Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi on Friday, informed them about holding ‘Swabhimana Samavesha’ under the party’s banner. The party high command has reportedly given the green signal for the event since it would aimed at building the party and not any individual.
It is believed that the Chief Minister has convinced the necessity of holding the convention in the JD(S) bastion to regain the party’s strength, galvanise the cadre, and mobilise people belonging to the minority, backward classes, and Dalit communities ahead of taluk/zilla panchayat elections. The Congress snatched the Hassan Lok Sabha seat from the JD(S) in the 2024 election after two decades.
Timing of convention
The convention is expected to provide a platform for Mr. Siddaramaiah to hit out at his opponents when he is facing charges of corruption in the site allotment by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The government has also faced embarrassment recently by issues related to the alleged withdrawal of BPL cards and alleged corruption in the Excise Department. The Opposition BJP has launched a campaign against the government for allegedly issuing notices to farmers in some districts claiming that their land belongs to the waqf board.
Mr. Shivakumar, Home Minister G. Parameshwara, Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa said the Chief Minister had informed them about the event. When asked about a section of the party leaders allegedly writing to the high command opposing the event, Yathindra S., MLC and son of the Chief Minister, termed it a “fake letter”. He said the party would fully back the event. Former Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya said the AICC chief too would attend the programme. All Ministers, legislators, and presidents of the party at various levels would be invited for the convention, sources said.
Earlier plans
In August, loyalists of the Chief Minister had planned to hold the mega event in Hubballi, but it was not held as charges of the MUDA ‘scam’ surfaced. Political observers see the upcoming convention as largely aimed at strengthening the position of the Chief Minister and sending a message to the party’s high command about his popularity amid speculation about a mid-term rejig in the government.
In August 2022, loyalists of the Chief Minister held a major function in Davangere to mark the 75th birthday of Mr. Siddaramaiah.
Published – November 29, 2024 07:29 pm IST
