Siddhu Out And Siva In?

Is the Congress high command planning to remove former CM and current leader of the Congress Legislature Party Siddaramaiah from the position? Is it planning to replace Siddaramaiah with powerful Vokkaliga leader DK Sivakumara? Sources say that the party is now planning to phase out Siddharamaiah as he has strong positions on various issues and is uncompromising over relationship with the JDS. Meanwhile, DK has emerged as a strong leader within the party and after his arrest and release in ED related cases, the Congress leaders see him as a powerful leader who can lead the party.

There is a growing opposition to Siddaramaiah within the Congress Party. Even the High Command is beginning to see Siddu more as an obstacle. Though the high command is making efforts to get closer to the JDU again in view of the upcoming byelections to the 15 MLA seats, Siddhu seems to be uninterested. He is arguing that the Congress should go it alone in the bypolls.

The party feels that DK Sivakumara, who is fast emerging as the party's main financier, should be promoted. It feels that DK has good relations with Deve Gowda, who too is a vokkaliga. It feels that he would be very useful in building bridges with JDS. So, he would soon be promoted in the party ranks.