Congress Sets Stage For Siddaramaiah's Shift To Delhi With Key OBC Advisory Role

Bengaluru: In a significant move, that appears to be Congress party is setting a road map for the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to head for the party work in Delhi, the AICC has constituted a new Backward Class Advisory Committee for OBC Department in AICC under him.

While a press release from Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and letters from Siddaramaiah to Committe members, inviting them to its first meeting at Bengaluru on July 15, hints at the same, Chief Minister's office downplays it.

On Saturday, the KPCC press release stated that the new advisory committee under Siddaramaiah has 24 members, including four former Congress Chief Ministers and other senior leaders. The AICC OBC Department President Dr Anil Jaihind is the Secretary of the Advisory Committee, while Jitendra Bhagel has been appointed as the Advisory Committee Secretary.

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah has sent an official letter from CMO to all the members, inviting them to the first meeting. When contacted, the CMO said that since Karnataka was hosting the first meeting, Siddaramaiah had written a personal invitation letter to all the delegates. When asked how CMO could invite the delegates of the party function, the CMO tried to downplay the issue saying that Siddaramaiah was monitoring the arrangements of the meeting.

The KPCC press release stated that the Backward Class Advisory Committee was formed as per recommendation by LOP Rahul Gandhi, in the view of forthcoming elections to various states in the country. The Congress party wanted suggestions from backward class leaders to woo the backward class votes towards Congress. Siddaramaiah will be leading the Committee as he is a powerful backward class leader and using his charisma, the Congress wanted to attract large tract of Congress votes.

The first meeting will be held in Bengaluru on July 15, and over 90 backward class leaders, including the Committee members would be participating in the meeting. Even Rahul Gandhi would preside over the entire meeting proceedings, the KPCC press release noted.

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Though the CMO downplays the issue, the move is seen as the first step towards smooth transition of power in Karnataka, where Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is waiting in the wings to become Chief Minister.

When Siddaramaiah had visited Delhi last month along with his supporters to ensure completion of his term, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, in a scuttle way had said that his services may be required at Delhi for the party. He had also reminded Siddaramaiah that the Congress had given him whatever he asked for since he joined that party from JD(S) in 2008.

Now, sudden formation of an Advisory Committee without much fanfare in Delhi is seen as the move to prepare Siddaramaiah for the party work in Delhi.