After reshuffle, Krishna on top for now

The CM has managed to drive a wedge into the Lingayats by favouring V.S. Koujalagi over Patil. Now that Koujalagi has emerged stronger, Patil has to outwit him to earn Lingayats’ respect.

To check the Janata parivar, that has Siddaramiah to muster the Kuruba community’s support, Krishna has retained H. Vishwanath and inducted H.M. Revanna into the Cabinet.

B.B. Chimmanakatti, yet another Kuruba, however, has been shown the door. He may yet become the KPCC chief. This way, Krishna has managed to widen its support base among Kurubas.

Krishna has made adjustments with the minority community too. He has dropped A.M. Hindasageri and inducted M.L. Ustad. Jaffer Sharief, who has been baying for Krishna’s blood, has been undercut with the sensitive ‘Haj’ portfolio handed over to Roshan Baig, a friendlier minority face. To humour SCs and STs, Krishna has put Kharge, Ranganath, Motamma, and Thimmapur in key posts.

Though Krishna appears to covered his flanks, rumours have been doing the rounds that Congress dissidents are rearing their heads. At least 13 Congress legislators of the 33 who are first timers in the Assembly held a meeting to air their grievances.

Giantkillers such as Guruswamy, who defeated former Deputy CM Siddaramiah; Vadnal Rajanna, who defeated J.H. Patel; Yasin, and Chandrashekharappa were among others who attended the meeting. Their main grievance was that newcomers were used only to push party work and its position. They have decided to meet before July 8, when the Assembly session begins.

The first-timers, however, don’t know that they were not inducted into the Cabinet on the party high command’s decision.