A big boost to Dharam Singh

BANGALORE: Karnataka chief ministerDharam Singh is gradually coming out of the cocoon of vulnerability, insecurityand indecisiveness. At least it appears so, if we go by his tough talk toNaxalites who are trying to make an entry into the state, his efforts to avert ashowdown between exhibitors and producers over the seven-week moratorium onnon-Kannada films, and his move to sit across the table with IT top guns to sortout infrastructure problems. It is a good sign as a CM must take the bull by itshorns.To his luck, the Bidar parliamentary byelection has gone theCongress way, with party candidate Narasingrao Suryawanshi securing 1,96,917votes as against his nearest BJP rival Ramachandra Arya''s1,83,447.The BJP, who has held the seat since 1991, took the secondspot, and the JD(S) the third. The coalition partner had contested the seat toprove that itis one up on Congress. This defeat will hopefully allow the CM toget on with the business of governance.The Supreme Court too hascome to his aid by sparing him the headache of finding a solution to the filmsrow. It has stayed the seven-week moratorium and issued notices to variousparties in the drama. Yes, in a coalition government,a CM has to tread cautiously. He must take the partner into confidence. He alsocannot afford to ignore his own party colleagues. And he must keep the people''sproblems at the top of his agenda. Dharam Singh, no doubt, was the ideal choicefor the CM''s post. But he fumbled at every step he took in the initialdays.He crawled when asked to bend, as he couldn''t handle thepressure from the JD(S). He failed to form a full cabinet, as there came a‘no'' for his every ‘yes''. He kept postponing the expansion. Hefaltered on the Uma Bharti issue. When Siddaramaiah ignored Bangalore''sdevelopment in his budget, he kept making empty promises, prompting protestsfrom citizens in general and IT companies in particular.He allowedthe CET trauma to drag on for months. He looked the other way when a moratoriumon non-Kannada films was imposed and there were attacks on cinema theatres.However, the CM seems to be making the right moves now. He convinced the ITsector to drop the scheduled dharna on October 15 against the government''s poorresponse to its demand for better roads, smooth traffic, etc. He persuaded filmexhibitors, producers and distributors to shun their rigid stances and asked hisdeputy Siddaramaiah to find a solution again by October 18.