Laxman Savadi (centre) switched over from the BJP to the Congress just six weeks before polling and played a major role in ensuring the grand old party’s victory in around 30-35 assembly seats. (PTI)
According to insiders, Savadi’s name was dropped over the controversy between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar over rewarding defectors, but the move is likely to create bad optics for the Congress.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has proved all the naysayers wrong as he has formed a full cabinet of 34 ministers including himself, with no seats vacant.
However, the most notable name from the Council of Ministers was that of Laxman Savadi, a former deputy chief minister who switched over from the BJP to the Congress just six weeks before polling and played a major role in ensuring the grand old party’s victory in nearly 30-30. 35 assembly seats.
Savadi’s switch from BJP to Congress changed public perception about the saffron party and broke its Lingayat stronghold, leading to its downfall.
After Savadi, former chief minister and fellow Lingayat leader Jagadish Shettar also joined the Congress, upset at not being re-joined. Though he lost his seat, his joining the party helped the Congress win the Lingayat vote in the state.
Savadi, who won from Athani in Belagavi district by a huge margin of over 75,000 votes, was widely expected to become a cabinet minister in the Siddaramaiah government. However, he did not make it to the final list and many in the Congress are surprised by his exclusion.
According to insiders, Savadi’s name was dropped over a dispute between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar over rewarding defectors. JDS’s KM Shivalingegowda, who won on a Congress ticket from Arasikere in Hassan district, demanded that he should also be included in the list, but was rejected by the high command. To balance it, he also dropped Savadi’s name.
Expressing unhappiness over the move, a top Lingayat leader of the Congress said there was no comparison between Savadi and Gowda. “Savadi is a very big leader and has helped Congress in 30-35 assembly seats by getting almost all sub-caste Ganiga votes. It has changed the results and we have won big. Gowda has won his seat. Congress could not win any other seat in Hassan district. where is the comparison? Gowda has no match with Savadi. We strongly feel that keeping in view the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and local body elections, Savadi should have been included.”
Although Savadi has not publicly expressed displeasure over his exclusion, his supporters have openly criticized the move.
Lingayat votes have an important role in 14 of the total 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. He argues that Savadi could have helped the Congress retain the Lingayat vote.
His exclusion has also been bad optics for the Congress, which is yet to win the confidence of Lingayats and BJP defectors.
Shettar too expressed surprise at the move and hoped that he and Savadi would find a place in the cabinet in future.
There is also talk of nominating Shettar to the upper house of the legislature in June. If the ruling Congress manages to get a majority in the Upper House, Shettar could be the Speaker.
But how will the Congress pacify Savadi and justify his ouster from the cabinet? Some in the party believe that Savadi will be made an important functionary of the Congress in the state and will be tasked with further strengthening the party in the Mumbai-Karnataka region.
The Congress, which won a thumping majority, will have to tread carefully to avoid any future rebellion and keep the sensitive Lingayats happy.