Karnataka Congress: Is DK Shivakumar trying to edge past former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah?
The whole ruckus was said to be stage-managed by Siddaramaiah far away from home during his trip abroad. Once he returned, this reported 'dissidence' vanished, and BJP was made to look like the villain, blamed of re-launching 'operation Kamala' to destabilize the coalition government.
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FollowThe breakfast hosted by Karnataka water resources minister DK Shivakumar is not just an indication of Cabinet expansion, but a message to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that there is another power centre called DK Shivakumar, who should not be taken lightly, say sources.
Recently, Jarkiholi brothers rebelled against the government and DK Shivakumar, forcing the party high command to intervene. They requested DKS not to interfere in Belagavi, which is a stronghold of the Jarkiholis
The whole ruckus was said to be stage-managed by Siddaramaiah far away from home during his trip abroad. Once he returned, this reported 'dissidence' vanished, and BJP was made to look like the villain, blamed of re-launching 'operation Kamala' to destabilize the coalition government.
"There is a clear divide between DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah. Only ministers were invited for breakfast. This is not a Cabinet meeting, but a get-together. By ignoring Siddaramaiah, who is a coordination committee chairman for the Coalition government, for breakfast, DK Shivakumar is showing that he is more powerful than Siddaramaiah before other leaders. Not BJP, Congress will in itself destroy its leaders," said S Prakash, Spokesperson, Karnataka BJP Unit.
Refusing to buy this argument of the BJP, the Congress and the JD(S) leaders say that the breakfast meeting had no agenda and there is no rift between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar. "DK Shivakumar is no doubt the tallest leader and has always remained a big power centre from the beginning. Since BJP is not getting any opportunity to find faults with the government, it is using these cheap tricks. BJP tried destroying the Constitution, secularism and democracy, but JD(S)-Congress saved it here," said, National Spokesperson of the JD(S), Tanveer Ahmed.
"The BJP predicted that Siddaramaiah will be removed as the chief minister in 100 days, but in reality, he completed his full term. Instead, if you look at BJP they changed three chief ministers in the five-year term. The power centres exist in BJP. R Ashoka, KS Eshwarappa, Sadananda Gowda, Ananth Kumar and others rebelled against their party president BS Yeddyurappa and they are pointing fingers at us," said Kengal Renu, Â Congress Spokesperson.
With Cabinet expansion plans around the corner, Â only time will tell whether Congress will be able to keep its flock happy and together.
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