The transfer by a bunch of Karnataka’s 22 Congress MPs, largely aligned with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, to embark on a “examine journey” to Australia and New Zealand at their “personal expense” has as soon as once more put the highlight on the management battle inside the state celebration as Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar relentlessly pushes for elevation to CM.
The MLA left Bengaluru within the wee hours of Wednesday on what is alleged to be an unofficial go to to look at dairy farming practices in Australia and New Zealand.
Whereas their tour has been characterised as a private initiative slightly than state sponsorship, its timing – earlier than the state finances and in opposition to the backdrop of Mr Shivakumar’s continued efforts to safe the CM chair – provides it a political tinge. The transfer is extensively learn as an try by Mr Siddaramaiah to indicate that he retains the help of a majority of parliamentarians.
“What’s incorrect if MLAs go on tour at their very own expense?” Siddaramaiah requested earlier this week when requested by the media in regards to the journey plans of a few of the celebration’s 135 MLAs.
Shivakumar, who can also be the Karnataka Congress president, made cautious remarks. He stated on Tuesday: “I’ve no details about any journey. I realized about it from the media. I do not know if it’s a private journey or somebody is sponsoring it. That could be a matter between the sender and the vacation spot. As celebration chief I can’t intervene on this.”
The international journey comes at a time when Mr. Shivakumar has postponed the Cupboard growth proposed by Mr. Siddaramaiah final yr and is making frequent visits to Delhi, a transfer seen inside the celebration as an try and stress the celebration management on a roadmap for attainable modifications to the state’s safety construction.
Siddaramaiah vs Shivakumar
Political circles proceed to invest that Mr. Shivakumar is seeking to stay the point of interest of the highest submit even because the Congress management is taking a wait-and-see perspective till the upcoming meeting elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry are accomplished.
There’s additionally hypothesis that MLAs aligned with Siddaramaiah could have acquired an off-the-cuff inexperienced gentle for the tour to pre-empt a contemporary public mobilization by Shivakumar forward of the March 6 Finances.
The same proposal by a senior minister from Siddaramaiah’s camp to go to overseas with loyal MLAs quickly after the Congress fashioned the federal government within the state in November 2023 was shelved following intervention from the celebration excessive command.
Over the previous two years, episodes of ‘dinner politics’ have been usually witnessed within the Karnataka Meeting, primarily involving leaders from backward and Dalit communities allied with Siddaramaiah, a lot of whom are future aspirants for the highest submit and are seen as potential challengers to Shivakumar.
“There’s not a lot to examine this journey. It is a routine journey, like ministers’ go to to Delhi. In any case, those that went overseas have to return again to Karnataka and do politics,” state minister for individuals with disabilities Satish Jarkiholi stated final week.
As Mr Shivakumar’s latest go to to Delhi is linked to management points, leaders near Mr Siddaramaiah have made sharp remarks about Mr Shivakumar’s makes an attempt to “affect” the celebration management. “The management is undamaged and powerful. The celebration excessive command has to offer directions on the management. Can the tail wag?” Social Welfare Minister Mahadevappa stated in a media briefing.
Senior Congress chief BK Hariprasad additionally opined, saying, “Shivakumar is the state celebration president. As an alternative of being often called The Rock, he ought to be often called the railway engine. Because the celebration president, he’s main the Congress. When the railway engine approaches the station, the platform makes noise, however when the practice departs, it turns into quiet once more. Identical with Shivakumar.”
He stated any determination relating to management change can be taken by the excessive command headed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Occasion Occasion (CPP) president Sonia Gandhi and Chief of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, including that state celebration leaders should look ahead to the ultimate name.
In the meantime, Mr. Shivakumar stated that if any determination is required, Mr. Siddaramaiah himself will convey it. “As I stated earlier, the management subject ought to be determined by the excessive command, Siddaramaiah and me. Solely time will inform. This isn’t a secret deal. Siddaramaiah himself will convey the message to the folks,” he stated. The opposition BJP has seized on the event and questioned the persevering with energy wrestle inside the Congress authorities. Chief of Opposition within the Meeting R. Ashoka referred to as the touring MLAs Siddaramaiah supporters and alleged that home politics have been degrading the CM’s workplace.
MLA go to plan
The journey plans of Congress MLAs have been made public after celebration lawmaker C. Puttarangashetti stated the animal husbandry ministry would take “20-22 MLAs” on a international go to from February 17 to March 3. Animal Husbandry Minister Ok. Venkatesh later clarified that the journey was carried out on the MP’s private expense.
“Through the latest Meeting session, a number of senior MLAs mentioned the journey and determined to go. I attended they usually additionally invited me. I advised them I’d take part if attainable,” stated Venkatesh, a Siddaramaiah supporter from Mysore area.
Congress MLA from Koppal Raghavendra Hitnalu stated the group had initially deliberate to go to Kenya and South Africa earlier than finalizing on Australia and New Zealand. “My pals and I made a decision to go on a visit at our personal expense after the parliament adjourned. Even if you’re touring alone, will probably be very troublesome if there’s opposition,” he stated.
