Stop commenting or face action: Congress warns Siddaramaiah, DKS loyalists

Bengaluru: The Congress high command stepped in Wednesday to de-escalate the camp war between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar by sternly asking Cabinet members and MLAs to stop commenting on the party’s internal matters.

“I’m warning clearly and categorically that no minister or MLA should violate party discipline,” AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, who oversees the party's affairs in Karnataka, said.

“The party will have to take appropriate action. If necessary, we’ll crack the whip. I hope it’ll never come to that,” Surjewala added.

Loyalists of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have been publicly commenting on the chief minister’s tenure, fuelling speculation on a power-sharing agreement between the two. “No party MLA is authorised to say any such thing. They should focus on their constituencies,” Surjewala said. “Even ministers have been warned...they’re completely out of line. They should work on their ministries and districts.”

The warning came after Surjewala, AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar held a closed-door meeting for two hours where they are said to have taken stock of the 165-day-old Congress government.

Surjewala and Venugopal are said to have asked Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to rein in their supporters. Concern was expressed over rabble-rousing having started less than six months after Congress came to power.

The upcoming Lok Sabha election was also discussed. The CM and his deputy have been tasked with identifying potential candidates over the next 15 days.

“Karnataka is at the centre point of the Congress’ strategy for the Parliament elections,” Surjewala said, adding that the party wants to win at least 20 out of the 28 seats in the state. “We definitely hope that the Congress’ guarantees implemented decisively will ensure our victory.”

According to sources, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were asked to do more on amplifying the guarantees implemented so that it benefits the party in the Lok Sabha polls.

“They (CM and DCM) pointed out that a regular audit is going on. Wherever there's a deficiency, concerned ministers are addressing them so that maximum beneficiaries are covered, especially SC/ST, OBC, minorities, women and youth,” Surjewala said.

On reorganising the Karnataka Congress, Surjewala said a proposal will be taken to the AICC soon. The rejig will see new working presidents for which the likes of Vinay Kulkarni, Anjali Nimbalkar, Tanveer Sait, GC Chandrashekar, Vasanth Kumar (Raichur), Vinaykumar Sorake and others are being considered, it is said.

The much-delayed appointments to boards and corporations was discussed without finality amid differences between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. "The discussion will continue after the Madhya Pradesh election on November 17. It'll take 2-4 more rounds," Surjewala said, adding that the party wants to appoint both workers and lawmakers to boards and corporations.