Disgruntled Congress MLA Siddaramaiah, is all set to launch himself into national politics by joining the grand alliance of Telugu mega star turned politician Chiranjeevi’s parallel forum of backward classes.
BANGALORE: Disgruntled Congress MLA Siddaramaiah, is all set to launch himself into national politics by joining the grand alliance of Telugu mega star turned politician Chiranjeevi’s parallel forum of backward classes.Chiranjeevi who recently gave up the grease paint to pursue his career in politics by floating a regional outfit, Praja Rajyam, has come out with the idea of forming a non-political outfit of backward classes at the national-level by bringing together strong OBC leaders from all states.
As a first move to realise this grand alliance, Chiranjeevi is said to have contacted Siddaramaiah, a backward class Kuruba leader who has kept his parallel political forum Ahinda - a non-political forum of dalits, minorities and backward class communities - alive, even after joining the Congress three years ago.
Chiranjeevi’s move reminds one of a similar effort by former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and film star, the late NTR, who had initiated a parallel force against the Congress.
Though NTR did it with an eye on the prime minister’s seat, Chiranjeevi who belongs to the Kapu community (third largest after Reddys and Kammas in AP), is yet to make his intentions clear.
Siddaramaiah, like Chiranjeevi, plans to float his own regional political party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Though the former deputy chief minister has been secretive, his followers have been spilling the beans on his next political move.
Sources said that Siddaramaiah and Chiranjeevi are set to meet in the fourth week of this month to discuss the formation of a non-political outfit at the national level. After coming together, the two leaders hope to bank on their charisma in the Lok Sabha elections.
Chiranjeevi enjoys a great fan following in the border districts of Bellary, Raichur, Kolar, Chikballapur, parts of Bidar, Gulbarga, Tumkur and Chitradurga.
On the other hand, Siddaramaiah’s hold over his Kuruba community (third largest after Vokkaligas and Lingayats) is undisputed. His followers believe that with this combination, they can play a spoilsport if not emerge a winner in Lok Sabha polls.
“We have already taught a lesson to the Congress in the bypolls. An alliance with Chiranjeevi will prove to be the death blow to them,” said a senior leader in the Siddaramaiah camp.
On the other hand, the BJP is keeping a close watch on these developments. It is an open secret that the saffron party is making desperate attempts to forge an alliance with Praja Rajyam, after losing its ally, the Telugu Desam in Andhra Pradesh.
There are also similar talks of Siddaramaiah entering into a pre-poll alliance with the BJP, after floating his own political outfit. In such a case, the poll prospects of the already demoralised Congress in Karnataka are likely to be affected.
posted by MEGA NANI
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