Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jun 19: Some people analyze that chief minister, Siddaramaiah's aversion to visit Sri Krishna Math and his decision not to visit the Math during President's visit has spurned a golden opportunity that had been offered on a platter to Congress party.

It may be recalled that Siddaramaiah, who has been identified with 'Ahinda (minorities, backward classes and dalits)' movement, had locked horns with the Math here relating to Kanaka Gopura dispute. An effort had earlier been made by the Congress government to take over administration of the Math but the Math had succeeded in thwarting this attempt. As soon Siddaramaiah became the chief minister, pressure had been brought on him by certain sections to take over Sri Krishna Math. It is said that the chief minister is wary of facing opposition from certain classes of people and their organizations who have been supporting his anti-Sri Krishna Math stance all these days.

Some analysts feel that Pranab's visit had provided Siddaramaiah with a golden opportunity to clear himself from the notion that he has been maintaining a discreet distance from higher castes. There is information that various ministers had requested the chief minister to use this opportunity and thaw the relationship with this class. Some also attribute this decision of Siddaramaiah to egotism.

As expected, Siddaramaiah restricted himself to seeing the President off at HAL airport. Many believe that even if he had visited Sri Krishna Math with the President, it would have been treated as a matter of protocol for the chief minister and not slide from earlier stand. His visit would have brought rich dividends to his party in this district in particular by way of earning goodwill of devotees of the Math and people from higher castes. This would have come as blessing in disguise for the party which is on the threshold of facing assembly election next year.

In the past, Siddaramaiah had tried to rush through a bill to ban superstitions but he had faced stiff opposition from senior ministers and therefore withheld it. After complaints emerged that policies of the government were keeping certain classes of the society away, under advice from the high command of the party, it is said, the chief minister agreed to give prominent positions to leaders from higher castes like KPCC working president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, and ministers, S R Patil and D K Shivakumar.