Explained: This article explains the political background, key decisions, and possible outcomes related to Explained : Siddaramaiah faces ‘dynasty’ jibes in Karnataka, while Revanth prepares a strategic offensive in Telangana and Its Impact and why it matters right now.
Ticket tussle turns personal: Siddaramaiah vs high command
The Congress high command Sunday appeared to have sent a subtle message to Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah—‘Look who is talking’. This followed Siddaramaiah’s opposition to the nomination of Samarth, son of cabinet minister S.S. Mallikarjun and grandson of Shamnur Shivashankarappa, for the Davangere South bypoll. Party insiders claim Siddaramaiah was “dead against” giving a ticket to “another (Shamnur) family member”, supposedly, becauas it could lead to a concentration of power.
On Sunday, the Congress nominated not one but two political heirs—late Shivashankarappa’s grandson, Samarth, and late H.Y. Meti’s son, Umesh Meti, for the Bagalkot assembly bypoll.
Siddaramaiah’s opposition to Samarth was taken by Congress leaders with a pinch of salt, especially since the CM’s son and former MLA, Yathindra, is currently a Congress MLC. Recently, the CM even appealed to the public to support his son, while Yathindra’s alleged interference in transfers and other administrative matters has come under criticism. Moreover, it was Siddaramaiah who initially signalled that a family member of his close aide, H.Y. Meti, would be fielded from Bagalkote.
Siddaramaiah’s political and religious trajectory has evolved since his entry into politics in the late 1970s. Once a staunch critic of the Gandhi dynasty, the 77-year-old has since paved his son’s entry into politics. Moreover, the Karnataka CM, often described as an “old-world socialist”, has assets worth over Rs 51 crore, including immovable property worth Rs 30 crore, and has of late been seen wearing expensive Cartier and Hublot watches, while he also travels in luxury cars and chartered flights from time to time.
Revanth’s floor-fight strategies: One with KCR & one without
With the state budget session underway in Telangana, Congress floor managers have prepared two separate strategies: one in the presence of Bharat Rashtra Samithi founder and former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), and one in his absence.
If KCR attends, the government plans to directly challenge the 10-year governance record of BRS on the floor, using the Kaleshwaram CBI investigation as the centrepiece. A judicial commission report previously highlighted structural failures, poor planning, and misappropriation of public funds in the construction of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project’s barrages (Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla).
If KCR is absent, the strategy shifts to a more administrative tone focused on “course correction” and forward-looking governance.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, during the 16 March Congress Legislative Party meeting, reminded his party colleagues that senior Congress leaders, such as Bhatti Vikramarka and Uttam Reddy, were denied a chance to speak during several assembly sessions between 2014 and 2023 when the KCR government was in charge. “We will do the same to KCR if he is present, or Harish Rao (formerly, minister of medical, health & finance), if KCR is absent,” the CM is learnt to have told his colleagues.
‘East or West’, the cadre wants Jayant to try his best
A few days ago, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief and Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary addressed a public meeting in Deoria, one of the easternmost districts of Uttar Pradesh. It marked his first appearance outside his West UP stronghold in several months.
Party functionaries said Chaudhary agreed to visit Deoria after repeated requests. There has been discontent among the cadre, with leaders feeling that the RLD has not been sufficiently active on the ground at a time when leaders from other parties in the National Democratic Alliance, such as Om Prakash Rajbhar, Sanjay Nishad, and Anupriya Patel, have been expanding their base to strengthen their bargaining position with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
According to a senior leader, some within the party have urged Chaudhary to step up outreach under a ‘Look East’ campaign. The Deoria visit is being seen as the start of that effort, particularly as state president Ram Ashish Rai is keen to contest from the region. There are at least half a dozen seats outside the bastion in the West where the party is trying to build its cadre.
“East or west, Jayant must start grassroots engagement,” a leader quipped.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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