HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) has lost no opportunity to put Congress on the backfoot
For the past week, Kumaraswamy has lost no opportunity to raise the issue and embarrass the Karnataka Congress unit.
“Everyone knows where the investigation is heading, but that is no longer the point,” said MB Maramkal, political strategist. Bengaluru: The alleged sting operation targeting former CM Siddaramaiah has given Union minister HD Kumaraswamy a new lease of political life, with the Congress appearing to play into his hands. In its aggressive bid to counter the JD(S) state chief, the governing party has allowed him to dictate the narrative and gain more visibility than BJP ’s state leadership, leaving Siddaramaiah to bear much of the political cost. Kumaraswamy appeared to have gone missing from Karnataka ’s political scene after joining Narendra Modi govt, but he has regained prominence through attacks on Congress, whose senior functionaries have been quick to take him on. By raising the sting issue, he has also sharpened differences between CM DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah. The former CM reportedly reached out to Rahul Gandhi Monday to express his concerns, if his associate and former minister KN Rajanna is to be believed. He has virtually silenced Shivakumar, who has refused to react to his numerous jibes. He has accused the CM of orchestrating the entire operation, yet there has been no rejoinder from Shivakumar. “Kumaraswamy has already achieved the political damage he intended. The bigger worry for Congress is the growing mistrust between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. This is now a test of the party’s ability to maintain cohesion and protect Siddaramaiah’s hard-earned dignity. Party brass needs to distinguish between defending the govt and defending the credibility of the probe. Treating every question as a political attack allows Kumaraswamy to set the agenda. Equally, declaring a conspiracy without establishing the sequence of events could undermine the govt’s position.”
The counterattack has come largely from home minister Priyank Kharge, and while he has embarrassed Kumaraswamy, it has also strengthened the Union minister’s position as opposition leader. It has allowed Kumaraswamy to project himself as the principal challenger to the Congress govt.