D K Shivakumar to Kharge: CM Siddaramaiah camp hurting poll hopes by defying gag order

New Delhi: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in his meetings with the top Congress leadership has expressed apprehensions that the party’s prospects in the upcoming local body polls could be damaged if a section of the state leaders considered close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah continue to rake up the leadership issue and defy gag orders imposed by the high command.

Sources say, Shivakumar, who closeted with Kharge on Tuesday night for more than an hour, blamed senior ministers like G Parameshwara, Satish Jarkiholi, K N Rajanna, and H C Mahadevappa for fuelling factionalism in the government as well as the party.

The CM, he reportedly told the party leadership, has not tried to rein in any of his close confidants.

While asking Kharge for immediate intervention, Shivakumar expressed apprehensions that if the situation is not salvaged, the government and party would have to suffer in the coming zilla and taluk panchayats polls.

Despite national General Secretary Randeep Surjewala warning state leaders, some of them continued to give statements before the media about the party and government affairs, Shivakumar said.

However, Shivakumar was not available for comment.

Shivakumar and the chief minister reached Delhi on different flights from Bengaluru on Tuesday to attend the inauguration of the newly constructed Congress headquarters.