Unhappy with the Congress, the leader plans to quit and lead the state unit of the megastar's new party instead
Unhappy with the Congress, the leader plans to quit and lead the state unit of the megastar's new party instead
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Disgruntled Congress leader Siddaramaiah's political future got a shot in the arm as Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi agreed to join hands with him.
According to close associates of Siddaramaiah, who is on the verge of quitting the Congress, he is considering an option to lead the state unit of Prajarajyam in Karnataka. Prajarajyam, Chiranjeevi's political party, was launched in Andhra Pradesh, a couple of months ago.
"Both are stars in their own rights. While Chiranjeevi is an on-screen megastar with a new political shine, Siddaramaiah is a real star among the backward classes," said B S Shivanna, a close confidante of Siddaramaiah. "With the combo taking over, the political scene in the state will take an interesting turn."
Backward class focus
Siddaramaiah, who built up his brand as a backward class leader through AHINDA conventions across the state, will inaugurate one such convention in Hyderadad on January 21, and Chiranjeevi will preside over the function.u00a0
AHINDA, a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and dalits, is an apolitical social organisation.
Chiranjeevi who is said to have been thoroughly impressed by the idea, approached Siddaramaiah for an alliance in Karnataka.
The sources said the two will discuss future plans, after the AHINDA convention, in Hyderabad. If everything turns out as expected, Siddaramaiah will launch Karnataka Prajarjyam (KPR) before the parliamentary elections.
"Chiranjeevi and Siddramaiah have some things in common between them," said Shivanna. "Chiranjeevi has great concern for backwards and dalits, while Siddramaiah is the voice of those classes, and the combination will work well."
Other plans
But, Siddaramaiah has some alternative plans as well. If the deal with Chiranjeevi does not work out, he plans to launch a new party with the old Janata principles as the basis, the sources said. Karnataka Janata Dal, and Democratic Janata Dal are the names under consideration.
"It is for sure that Siddarmaiah will leave Congress," said a source. "He has a strong vote base, and will contest from Koppal in the parliamentary elections if the need arises."
According to the source, around 25 sitting and former MLAs have expressed their solidarity with Siddaramaiah, and he will aim at creating a third front in the state against Congress and BJP, while opposing his bete noir Deve Gowda's JD(S).
Getting jittery about the development, the Congress leaders are reportedly trying to patch up with Siddaramiah, who had defiantly kept himself out of the recently concluded by-elections. Instead of taking action against him, they have invited him for an introspection meeting today, but there is little chance of him attending the meeting.
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