BENGALURU: Infighting within Congress over who should be chief minister appears to have returned after a brief hiatus, threatening to eclipse the party’s plans to put up a united front ahead of next year’s assembly elections.
At the Chintan Shivir in Rajasthan last week, camps led by DK Shivakumar, president of the state Congress unit, and Siddaramaiah, legislature party leader, had given the impression that they had buried the hatchet and that party would present a picture of unity in the run up to the elections.
But the scenario appears to be back at square one, with infighting resurfacing with renewed vigour. At a public event on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah said that if he returns as chief minister at the end of the assembly elections next year, he will address issues of Dalits. Speaking at an event organsied by the Dalit Sangharsha Samithi, he said he would waive loans availed by Dalits.
He said he “had no iota of doubt” that Congress would return to power. These comments came a day after his loyalist BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, Chamrajpet MLA, appealed to people to “pray” for Siddaramaiah to become the chief minister. Khan’s appeal came in the face of a party diktat to not make such statements publicly. However, Khan said: “There is nothing wrong in desiring Siddaramaiah to become chief minister again and expressing it since it is my opinion. ”
The overture comes just three days after the Chintan Shivir – a brainstorming session that was expected to iron out faultlines. Malavalli Shivanna, KPCC general secretary and Siddaramaiah’s confidante, said: “It is clear Congress will easily win a majority if we go to polls under Siddaramaiah’s leadership. Projecting Siddaramaiah as the chief ministerial candidate will be in the interest of the party. ” These comments evoked sharp reactions from the Shivakumar camp.
HD Ranganath, Kunigal MLA and a close aide of Shivakumar, suggested that it actually amounts to “anti-party activity”. “Statements such as these hinder the party’s prospects at a time when the Congress is shaping up well under Shivakumar’s leadership,” he said.
Senior functionary and opposition leader in the council, BK Hariprasad also admonished those involved in the factional feud, saying there were “mischievous” elements trying to create confusion. “It is better if leaders control their followers,” Hariprasad said.
SR Mehroz Khan, KPCC general secretary, said the high command has taken note of the issue and even proposed to set up a Political Affairs Committee (PAC) in the state ahead of a two-day statelevel Chintan Shivir.
Rumbling in BJP too While Congress appears to be at odds and ends, BJP too appears to be fumbling with the leadership question. Although party general secretary Arun Singh recently clarified that a leadership change is not on the cards, rumbling over Basavaraj Bommai’s handling of issues is growing.
Factions within the party have intensified lobbying for the top post as there is a general sense of ambiguity in the high command’s signals over Bommai’s position, especially with his failure to gain the confidence of the central leadership on the issue of expanding his council of ministers. “We cannot deny the fact that the delay in taking decisions will reflect badly on us and will add to frustration among legislators,” said MP Renukacharya, chief minister’s political secretary.
