Siddaramaiah completes one year in office, quietly

After dethroning the first-ever BJP government in the south, Siddaramaiah started on a pro-poor note with a scheme to provide rice at Re 1/kg and other welfare schemes for backward classes and minorities.

On the flip-side, he faced flak over the induction of controversial ministers DK Shivakumar and Roshan Baig, who face corruption charges, as the Congress had returned to power upon the promise of a clean administration.  

Siddaramaiah, quintessentially a Janata Parivar man, has come in for criticism from party insiders for his style of functioning, often described as abrasive and heavy-handed.  

The Lok Sabha poll outcome is what the Chief Minister is most eagerly looking forward to as a lot is at stake for him and it could have a bearing on his standing within the party.  

Siddaramaiah, who led the Congress offensive in the Lok Sabha polls, is looking at a target of about 20 of the 28 seats as that will act as a counter to any possible attempt within his party to undermine his position.