Bengaluru: The Congress Tuesday asserted it was not discussing any possible leadership changes in Karnataka, and warned legislators against making statements on the issue in the media. But even as the party projected a united face, a video surfaced online in which an MLA is heard saying Siddaramaiah hit the “lucky lottery” and became the chief minister while others who joined the Congress with him got nothing.
Speaking to the media here amid the feud between Siddaramaiah and his deputy D.K. Shivakumar, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary (In charge, Karnataka) Randeep Singh Surjewala said his exercise of meeting party MLAs over the next three days is focussed not on seeking the opinions of MLAs for a possible change in guard in the state, but on addressing their grievances and various organisational issues.
The press conference was attended by Shivakumar also but not Siddaramaiah.
“Don’t try and settle your scores. Raise (any issues) with the head of the family. The party’s head of the family is PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) president (Shivakumar). The government’s head of the family is the chief minister, Mr Siddaramaiah,” Surjewala said, attempting to placate the two warring factions.
His statements come at a time when Congress legislators have continued to publicly air concerns over the lack of funds for development, inability to access ministers, alleged arrogance of officials and other issues that have left the party red faced.
The MLAs have also been weighing in on a possible leadership change, even demanding that the incumbent chief minister Siddaramaiah be replaced with his deputy Shivakumar.
Shivakumar mirrored Surjewala’s statements that no discussions were being held on leadership change and that it was important for all his party members to maintain discipline.
“No one is in a hurry (for a change) and 2028 (assembly elections) are important for us,” he told reporters Tuesday.
The DyCM added that he will issue a notice to Ramanagaram MLA Iqbal Hussain for his statements that Shivakumar should be made the chief minister for the remainder of the term.
“No one needs to tell me that I will become CM,” Shivakumar said, adding that Congress leaders should not appear before the media to air grievances or express their opinions.
The discussion around the topic has fuelled speculation if the Congress high command was actually considering implementing its informal assurance that Shivakumar would replace Siddaramaiah in the second half of the ongoing term.
On Monday, AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge said the party high command will take a decision on the leadership change and it was not possible to speculate what was going on in the mind of the top brass.
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‘Siddaramaiah hit the lottery but none of us got anything’
Even as Shivakumar and Surjewala were trying to contain the challenge, party leaders were making statements that only fuelled the problem.
B.R.Patil, a close aide of Siddaramaiah and the first one to raise the problem of corruption in the government this time around, was heard airing his grievances on the phone to an unidentified person. It appears that someone in the same room made a video of Patil speaking on the phone.
During the call, Patil is heard stating that Siddaramaiah hit the “lucky lottery” as he became CM but the others who joined the Congress with him got nothing. “I only got him to meet Sonia Gandhi first. His fate was good, he became CM,” Patil says.
Later on, Patil acknowledged that he spoke about Siddaramaiah. “I was one of the eight MLAs who left the JD(S) and we joined the Congress under Siddaramaiah’s leadership,” Patil said.
Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah said he was not aware of Patil’s statements but said he was fortunate to become CM. Siddaramaiah added he will speak to Patil on the issue.
But Patil’s statements were not the only one that was adding to the troubles of the Congress.
Iqbal Hussain also demanded Shivakumar be made the chief minister. “MLAs will support this and the high command will take a decision. Many people want a change, want to see more development, come to power again,” he told reporters Tuesday.
He said the leadership change was not revolutionary but only an opportunity extended to a person who has organised the party, fought for it and brought it up from around 70 seats to 137 currently. He claimed more than 100 MLAs are in favour of a change.
Shivakumar said a notice would be served in a day or two to Hussain.
Soon after the Congress came to power, the party delayed announcing the CM as Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah locked horns over who should take up the top post.
Following intense negotiations—during which both leaders remained steadfast in their demand—Congress state chief Shivakumar finally gave in and agreed to play second fiddle to Siddaramaiah.
A close aide of Shivakumar described his decision at the time to ThePrint as “another sacrifice” for the party.
The party top brass also assured Shivakumar then that he would replace Siddaramaiah in the latter half of the term. But any move by Shivakumar to realise this promise has been met with stiff resistance so far.
Many Siddaramaiah loyalists have openly said the chief minister will complete a full term in office. Some have even tried to clip Shivakumar’s wings, pressuring the high command to add a couple of more Dy CMs and also replace the state party chief.
“In the next five years, Siddaramaiah will remain the chief minister,” Raghavendra Hitanal, the Congress legislator from Koppal, told reporters Tuesday.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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