Siddu turns star campaigner for Cong

 It’s a sea change for Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Siddaramaiah, vis-a-vis his role in the elections to the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) held in 2007 and the upcoming polls on March 7.

During the 2007 polls, Siddaramaiah had just joined the party and was sidelined, as he was a 'newcomer'. His entry had been strongly resisted not just by senior Congress leaders, but also local leaders in the City.

But the scenario is different in th district now, especially in Mysore City. Today, Siddaramaiah has been 'wholeheartedly' accepted into the party fold.

He is being credited with uniting warring leaders, a problem that would have otherwise hampered Congress's prospects in both the ULB and Assembly polls.
He is ironing out his differences with leaders like MLA Tanveer Sait (Narasimharaja) and former mayor Vasu.

Party leaders said Siddaramaiah, who is considered elusive, was seen engaging himself in the entire electioneering for the MCC polls. He's had a say in candidate selection too, leaders said.

Siddaramaiah has emerged as a star campaigner for the Congress and his efforts have borne fruit. Party workers and the candidates are enthused by his presence and are taking him door to door for canvassing.

On Sunday, Siddaramaiah was seen campaigning alongside Sait and Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress president Rizwan Arshad in Narasimharaja, a minority-dominated area.

Sait and Arshad do not seen eye to eye. With Arshad being touted as the Congress candidate in the Narasimharaja constituency for the Assembly polls, Sait has been seen sulking.

Sources said Siddaramaiah insisted that the two leaders forget their differences and send a positive message to the party candidates in the Corporation elections. Else, it would cost the Congress dear in the Assembly elections.

On Monday, Siddaramaiah was seen rubbing shoulders with his arch rival, Vasu. The two campaigned together in Chamaraja Assembly constituency.

The Congress leader, however, can breathe easy when it comes to Krishnaraja constituency.

Here, both former MLA M K Somashekar and the local leaders have accepted Siddaramaiah as their leader.