Bengaluru: Outgoing Chief Minister Siddharamaiah (he became former this morning as BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa was sworn-in as the new CM) turned emotional at a meeting of the party’s new Legislators yesterday while speaking on Congress’ defeat in the Assembly polls even as senior leaders blamed him for the result.
Seventy-year-old Siddharamaiah received flak from several senior party MLAs, who held him responsible for the Congress’ performance, citing his complete authority in selection of candidates and the Lingayat issue, they said.
Siddharamaiah, who had heavily banked on his ‘Bhagya’ schemes and ‘pro-backward class’ programmes, had dreamt of making a big comeback amidst the BJP challenge. But the surprising results seem to have shaken Siddharamaiah like never before.
Added to the blow the voters have delivered, the Congress High Command has asked the State unit to forge an alliance with JD(S) whom he has detested all the time ever since he quit JD(S) to join Congress in 2006. All these factors made Siddharamaiah to turn emotional and was seen weeping during the Congress Legislative Party meeting at the KPCC office in Bengaluru.
His emotional action brought tears among his colleagues too as quite a number of sitting Ministers had bitten the dust. Interacting with the newly elected MLAs, Siddharamaiah rued his failure to get the majority for the party.
“We have given good governance for five long years. Yet, we did not get the mandate of the people. I toured the State several times and toiled hard to get the party back to power. But none of these yielded us the required mandate,” Siddharamaiah reportedly said with tears in his eyes. Upon seeing their leader sobbing, several other leaders like MLC Dharmasena and others too burst into tears.
Jumping into the situation, several MLAs alleged that confusion over picking the right candidates spoiled the party’s prospects. “Rather than picking winning horses, leaders extended ticket to those who move around powerful leaders in the party, triggering the fall,” MLAs reportedly said. However, Congress State President Dr. G. Parameshwara intervened to resolve the situation and took the leaders away to hold a meeting with JD(S) leaders.
siddus crocodile ears
Considering his (forced?) relationship with HDD/HDK, now and before the election, he must be going through worst part of his political career. Probably he never imagined such a situation would arise.
Siddaramaiahji is very good human being, he is outspoken, because of his outburst, some communities is going against him and voted against him, his mouth spoiled him the chanced of come back to power, but he is real leader and good for our state and country. congress party gained good reputation because of Siddaramaihaji.
totally wrong views
Nothing much he can do as the hindi saying “Manmani karage tho mar khana padegha, mar khanese darad hotha hai, thab rona padtha hai”
Some people hated congress and voted JdS! Some people hated Gowda clan and voted congress! During the election they fought with each other like hungry wolves! Now they want to join hands?
They should not even consider the 3rd party for any support! If you can get the support from winning party members, that should’ve been the only criteria! 3rd party should be considered as failed and should not have any voice until next election!