‘Congress united’: Shivakumar dismisses dissent after outreach

Bengaluru, Aug 5 (AHN) Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday dismissed reports of dissidence within the ruling Congress following the recent Cabinet expansion, asserting that the party remains united and that discussions with disappointed leaders were held in a positive atmosphere.

Shivakumar’s remarks came after he, along with AICC Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, met senior Congress MLA M. Krishnappa and his son, Govindarajanagar MLA Priya Krishna, at their residence in Bengaluru’s Vijayanagar locality amid resentment over the denial of a ministerial berth to the veteran legislator.

“There is no dissident in the party. It was a healthy discussion. We have to take care of our leaders; we have to share responsibilities and work out a strategy. There is no question of any dissident. Where is the dissident? Everything is intact; there is no problem,” Shivakumar told reporters after the meeting.

Describing the disappointed legislators as “eligible, senior and loyal leaders”, the Chief Minister said the leadership had only sought to explain the circumstances surrounding the Cabinet expansion.

Responding to Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President B.Y. Vijayendra’s criticism of the developments within the Congress, Shivakumar declined to engage directly with the Opposition leader.

“I don’t want to answer anything to Vijayendra. Let him first repair himself. Let him keep his house in order. His MLC election has shown him the door,” he said.

Speaking after the meeting, M. Krishnappa said the Chief Minister and Surjewala had acknowledged that a mistake had occurred in the Cabinet formation and assured him that it would be rectified.

“The Chief Minister and Surjewala came and told me that some mistake happened and they will set it right. It is left to them,” Krishnappa said.

Priya Krishna also described the meeting as positive, stating that the discussions centred on his father’s exclusion from the ministry.

“It was about my father’s candidature for the ministry. They have said there has been a mistake and that they will rectify it as soon as possible. That is left to the party,” he said.

Reiterating his loyalty to the Congress, Priya Krishna said neither he nor his father would resort to pressure tactics.

“We are in the party. We are loyal workers. We are not deserters. We don’t resign, we don’t threaten, and we don’t blackmail. We are fighters, and we will fight it out within the party,” he said.

He added that the party leadership had assured them that the issue would be addressed in the best possible manner at the earliest.

The Congress leadership has stepped up efforts to pacify dissatisfied legislators after the Cabinet expansion triggered discontent among several senior leaders who were overlooked for ministerial positions.

Meetings with aggrieved MLAs are being seen as part of the party’s damage-control exercise to prevent the unrest from escalating.