Congress top brass asks CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy DK Shivakumar to silence rumblings in Karnataka

Bengaluru: With speculation over a change in leadership hurting the party, the Congress high command is believed to have intervened on Wednesday by asking Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar to do whatever it takes to end the flutters. 

Shivakumar visited Siddaramaiah’s residence where AICC general secretary K C Venugopal spoke to both of them over the phone. 

It is said the high command, through Venugopal, conveyed its dismay over statements being made by a few ministers and some of them holding separate meetings, which are fuelling speculation that Siddaramaiah may go. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have been asked to deal with indiscipline sternly, sources said. 

The ‘Dalit CM’ speculation, which has come to the fore thanks to a series of meetings being held by Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, should also stop, Venugopal is said to have told Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. 

‘Haryana a wake-up call’

According to sources, Venugopal is said to have blamed “infighting” in Congress for the party’s defeat in Haryana, citing that as an example to underline the need for unity. 

“Such developments will not be tolerated as they will provide an advantage to the BJP and the JD(S),” Venugopal told the CM and his deputy, it is said. 

‘Closed-door’ meetings

Speculation is also rife that the high command’s intervention came after Shivakumar, the Karnataka Congress president, kicked up a storm over the likes of Satish holding ‘closed-door’ meetings. 

The ‘Dalit CM’ pitch is widely seen as part of a larger attempt to scuttle the prospects of Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga, replacing Siddaramaiah as per a rumoured midterm change in leadership.