Hassan rally: Shivakumar says Siddaramaiah is Congress CM, not coalition CM

Bengaluru: Even as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted that the mega Congress convention to be held in Hassan on December 5 was jointly organized by his supporters and the party, KPCC president D K Shivakumar on Sunday categorically said that it would be organized under the party’s banner and under his leadership.

Shivakumar’s statement assumes significance in the wake of an anonymous letter complaining to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge about this convention, highlighting that Siddaramaiah had consistently distanced himself from Congress platforms and symbols and was organising programmes under the banners of different organisations ever since he joined the party.

After a preparatory meeting for the rally with party leaders from old Mysuru region at the KPCC office here, Shivakumar said, “District incharge minister (K N Rajanna) and several organizations are already involved in the preparations. The party will take their support in organizing it.”

He insisted that Siddaramaiah was the chief minister from the Congress party and not from any coalition of parties.

“So, this will be a party convention. Only a single symbol and single banner will be there in the convention and they happen to be those of our party,” he said, rebutting a section of ministers who claimed that the Hassan convention was an apolitical event.

“We have discussed in detail with AICC leaders about this event. Based on their  suggestions, we are organizing it,” he said. The KPCC president said similar events will be held in Shiggaon, Channapatna and Sandur, where the party won Assembly byelections recently.

Earlier, Siddaramaiah had said that the rally was a thanksgiving convention.

“This convention is being organized jointly by Congress party and like-minded organizations. We have invited AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge and general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala for the event,” he said. 

He recalled that a similar convention was organized when he was expelled from the JD(S) in the past.