Siddaramaiah to cut the ice with Vokkaligas in Lok Sabha polls?

 The ensuing Lok Sabha polls will be an acid test for JD(S)-Congress Coordination Committee chairman Siddaramaiah. It is his responsibility to ensure the victory of coalition candidates in Old Mysuru region, to remain in the good books of AICC president Rahul Gandhi.
Despite the Congress losing the assembly polls in the state, the party high command had backed Siddaramaiah, making him Congress Legislative Party leader and giving him a free hand with the cabinet expansion too. Siddaramaiah, a known Ahinda leader, must break the ice with Vokkalligas to ensure transfer of votes.
“He should be flexible and accommodating to bring Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy on board to chant the unity mantra that will convince Vokkaligas to vote for Congress,” political pundits say. Although there is “some unity” among top Congress and JD(S) leaders, political rivalry between workers continues to be a worry. This rivalry has turned ugly in a few constituencies, and is a hindrance.
Though Dinesh Gundu Rao is KPCC chief and G Parameshwara is Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah is likely to be the face of the Congress LS poll campaign. According to sources, Vokkaliga leaders held a meeting recently to support a community candidate in Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha seat. “This will affect the chances of the Congress, if JD(S) fails to transfer votes to the party candidate,” they say.
Now, Congress leaders want Siddaramaiah to speak to Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy to send a strong message to party cadre to support an alliance candidate. 

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