Bengaluru: Rahul Gandhi’s looming resignation as Congress president has come as a big blow to Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy. Gandhi was the only lifeline available for HDK when Congress rebels or former chief minister Siddaramaiah hoisted the flag of rebellion. With Congress rebels breathing down his neck, Kumaraswamy tried to reach out to Gandhi once more, but his calls went unanswered. Instead, his trusted lieutenant K C Venugopal was sent to Karnataka to sort out the issues.
But this has left HDK high and dry as many in the Congress have termed Venugopal as ineffective and far from ground realities. In fact, Congress leader Roshan Baig has called him a buffoon. As HDK was left alone to drift, the Congress Legislative Party met here this evening amidst stormy scenes. The loyalists headed by former chief minister Dharam Singh’s son Ajay Singh took the leaders to task by openly asking them how rebels could be accommodated as ministers when those who were loyal towards the party are in the queue for a ministerial berth.
Even as loyalist had a bitter argument at the CLP, sources say a section of the party said that former chief minister Siddaramaiah should take over as CM as Kumraswamy has been not only ineffective, but also inefficient. He is more concerned about his family rather than the state and this was the sole reason why the Congress sank along with the JD(S) in the recent Lok Sabha polls.
As a rebellion brewed in the Congress, Karnataka Congress troubleshooter DK Shivakumar tried to calm nerves by saying that the need of the hour was to remain united and disciplined soldiers of the party. But there were very few takers for his line of appeal. “We will see that the government will be safe,” Congress lawmaker DK Shivakumar said without elaborating how.
But one factor that is keeping the Congress united is the looming threat of the BJP which is keen on a snap poll as the party found itself ahead in 177 of the Assembly 284 constituencies in the recent Lok Sabha polls. The rebels were told that if they pull down the government, the BJP would step in in no moment. Many in the Congress do not want a snap poll. But if the rebels are offered tickets by the BJP in case of a snap poll, the days of the JD(S)-Congress alliance are numbered.
