Congress could go in for Vokkaliga president

BENGALURU: In the 'pehle aap' game between the Congress and BJP in appointing new presidents for their Karnataka unit, the BJP has set the ball rolling by choosing a Lin gayat.
To balance the caste equation, there's speculation that the Congress will go in for a candidate from the forward community.
Party sources said the Congress high command is considering its options between a Lingayat or a Vokkaliga to succeed KPCC president G Parameshwara, whose term ended in October 2015.Yeddyurappa's appointment will now provide scope for the Congress to attack the BJP on the grounds that tainted leaders don't matter for the party which is seeking to wrest power by any means. "The BJP stands to gain with Yeddyurappa who will scoop up the Lingayat votes. But in constituencies where the Lingayayts are in a majority, the other backward classes (OBCs) are a decisive factor.Much depends on how Congress utilizes the OBC votes,'' a Congress leader said.
Low on graft, claims party
Party insiders claim that but for one or two ministers ac cused of corruption, the Con gress gover nment, which completes three years in May, has remained largely untainted. When the BJP was in power, 13 ministers resigned following allegations, ranging from rape to bribery to watching porn in the assembly .
"The Congress has two years to win the people's trust. Right now, the Lingayats, Vokkaligas and dalits are not with the party. If the party loses in 2018, it's due to the anti-incumbency factor," sources said.
According to party sources in New Delhi, there have been discussions on appointing a new president and minister SR Patil and Karnataka's representative in New Delhi CS Nadagouda were considered but both were ruled out as the high command felt they belonged to the Siddaramaiah camp.
The front-runner among the Vokkaligas is reportedly energy minister DK Shivakumar. "Yes, there are charges of corruption against him. He wanted to continue as minister for one year, if appointed to head the party but the high command shot down his request," sources said.
Rebuilding the government and the party's image will begin shortly with Siddaramaiah revamp his cabinet. The party is also going to ask its chairpersons of boards and corporations to resign in batches of five. They were appointed in 2014 with 18-month tenure.