Karnataka: D K Shivakumar asked to ensure all toe party line, says Surjewala

People of Pulakeshinagar Assembly constituency in Bengaluru participate in a signature campaign launched by the Congress against ‘Vote Chori’, on Friday. The grand old party hopes to collect 5 crore signatures from Karnataka.

Credit: Special Arrangement

Bengaluru: Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday denied any dissidence in his party, and said that Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had been “fully authorised” to ensure all leaders fell in line. 

Surjewala, who is in charge of the party’s affairs, was reacting to show-cause notices that were issued to Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath and former MP L R Shivarame Gowda for publicly backing Shivakumar to become the CM. 

“There’s absolutely no dissent in the party,” Surjewala said. “Our party president, who also happens to be the deputy CM, D K Shivakumar, is fully authorised to ensure that everybody toes the party line and doesn’t speak beyond their brief,” he said. 

“Some people get excited on account of their emotions or otherwise and make statements beyond the remit and realm of the party’s discipline,” Surjewala said. “That’s why I’ve asked Shivakumar to deal with them accordingly,” he added. 

‘Vote Chori’ campaign

On Friday, Surjewala launched a campaign to collect 5 crore signatures in support of the party’s ‘Vote Chori’ charge. The signature campaign was started from the Pulakeshinagar constituency. 

Speaking at the event, Surjewala accused the BJP of creating “bogus voters” and called for this to be exposed. 

“We’re collecting 5 crore signatures (from Karnataka) to be placed before the Election Commission (EC). And, EC will be told that no Indian’s vote can be cut and bogus voters added,” Surjewala said. “What happened in Mahadevapura and Aland Assembly constituencies is happening in every Assembly and Lok Sabha constituency in India,” he charged. 

The stealing of votes is a “designed conspiracy”, which Surjewala described as an “attack on the Constitution and democracy”. The Election Commission, he said, is “captive” and was a “mute spectator and participant” in the theft of votes. 

“Some people get excited on account of their emotions or otherwise and make statements beyond the remit and realm of the party’s discipline. That’s why I’ve asked Shivakumar to deal with them accordingly": Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC general secretary