MLA Roshan Baig’s tirade leaves Congress red-faced

In the Congress, a leader dropping the hints of rebellion is more likely to get rewards. It was not before the Congress came under intense pressure that Karnataka Chief Minister H.D.Kumaraswamy recast his ministry in December.

One person who spoke his mind bravely, and got his pound of flesh was Congress MLA from Vijayapura district MB Patil. Ignoring the party’s requirement that the leaders should air their grievances within the four walls of the party, Patil went public. He made his way into the Kumaraswamy ministry only after he raised a banner of revolt, and said the coalition regime had given all key positions people from the Old Mysuru region, ignoring the North Karnataka completely.

The Congress swiftly acted and made Patil a minister and gave him the Home portfolio by snatching it from Deputy CM G.Parameshwara. The only difference between the outbursts of Patil and seven-time MLA R.Roshan Baig is while the former spoke of injustice to North Karnataka, the Shivajinagar MLA is speaking about injustice to Muslims. In the coming weeks, if the JD(S)-Congress regime were to survive the LS results juggernaut, the party might attempt to silence Baig by making him a minister, just how it handled Patil.


The Baig Conundrum:
As the Congress party’s Karnataka unit struggled to wriggle out of the damage Baig has caused with his outbursts to the party, the question that is abuzz in political circles is: will he choose to stay on in the Congress even after maligning three senior leaders, or explore greener pastures in the BJP?

Though the senior Muslim politician has dropped hints of his softness to the BJP, and the saffron party too has warmed up to the idea by extending an invitation, he has not said a final word yet. He has maintained his remarks are aimed only at some leaders, not the party.

The BJP will have every reason to cheer if he were to join as it will fill the vacuum for a well-known Muslim face. In the past, the BS Yeddyurappa ministry had Mumtaz Ali Khan, an MLC then. The BJP has some Muslim leaders, they are not same as Baig. None of them is an elected MLA, and precisely for this reason, Baig stands tall. The Shivajinagar MLA joining the BJP would also mean some minority votes drifting towards the BJP. That might mean some political future for his son R Ruman Baig.

Tuesday was an action-packed day for the former Congress Minister as he went about giving generous sound bytes to tv channels attacking senior leaders. Former CM Siddaramaiah, State Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao and AICC general secretary KC Venugopal were his targets. He said Rao’s election campaign was a “flop-show”, while Venugopal was a buffoon.

He also pinned the blame on Siddaramaiah for the likely electoral setback in Karnataka, a sentiment JD(S) state president H.Vishwanath endorsed too, rubbing the ex-CM further in.

While Siddaramaiah and Rao are reportedly in favour of strong action against Baig, the Congress is expected to move cautiously because Baig is a veteran Muslim politician with an ability to win elections and influence sections of Muslim voters. The Congress can ill-afford to let someone like Baig to join the BJP just when the saffron party is on an upswing.

The Congress MLA is also said to enjoy the blessings of some national Congress leaders who are keen to curb the clout of both Siddaramaiah and Venugopal in the party. They may come to his rescue.

In an obvious reference to Baig’s remarks, Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said he had always been a straightforward person, but for some men it would appear like arrogance. He would not bother much about such men. He also said he would not react in public to JD(S) leader Vishwanath’s comments, but would discuss the subject at the coordination committee meeting.