In veiled dig at DKS, Rajanna recalls 'one person, one post' policy

Bengaluru: Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna reminded Congress on Saturday about its 'one person, one post' policy even as clamour for the removal of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar as the Karnataka Congress president is growing. 

Rajanna, who is Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's loyalist, recalled why Congress fired D Devaraj Urs. 

"In 1979, Urs was both party president and chief minister. The high command asked him to retain either one of the positions. But he wanted to keep both. The high command removed him from the party because he refused to comply with the 'one person, one post' policy. So, those who don't act as per what the high command decides will face action," Rajanna said.

On whether or not the Congress high command is strong enough to enforce the policy, Rajanna said: "The Congress high command is more powerful that ever before." 

But Rajanna specified that he has no issues with Shivakumar continuing as the president if that's what the party high command wants. "Ultimately, the high command will decide on the party president or Cabinet reshuffle," he said. 

It is said that Rajanna and other Siddaramaiah loyalists want someone else as the Karnataka Congress president in order to cut Shivakumar, a chief ministerial aspirant, to size. Their view is that Shivakumar can be weakened once he loses control over the party. 

In June 2024, Rajanna had recalled AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal's statement from 2023. "Venugopal said Siddaramaiah will be the CM, D K Shivakumar will be the lone deputy CM and that Shivakumar will continue as the KPCC president until the Lok Sabha polls. I am only reminding (the party) about this," he said.

One view in Congress is that a Lingayat, someone like Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, should replace Shivakumar as the party president. Another view is that the next party president should be from the SC/ST community.

"I am ready to become the party president if the high command asks," Rajanna, an ST, said. 

Rajanna also said he has written to the Congress high command on ensuring representation of all communities in the party's organisation. "Say, in Madhugiri that I represent, block presidents and other positions in the party's frontal organisations must not belong to my community. They must belong to other communities. It is good for the party if this is followed," he said.