Kharge urges Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar to unite for Karnataka's development amid power struggle
Kalaburagi (Karnataka), Mar 8 (PTI): Amid the ongoing power tussle within the ruling Congress in Karnataka, party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar to work together and prioritise the state's development.
He also said if they remain apart and move in different directions it will be "difficult."
The leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha was speaking at an event to flag off Kalyana Patha project at Jewargi here. The project will be undertaken at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore.
Lauding Siddaramaiah for presenting a record 16th budget on Friday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge described it as a "good budget" and emphasised that the party consistently supports and encourages individuals doing good work.
He highlighted that the people of the state are now benefiting from it.
Kharge also praised Shivakumar for his past work as Minister for Energy, Irrigation Minister, and as the state Congress president. He acknowledged Shivakumar’s dedication to serving the party, government, and the people.
"I complement Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. Together you (both) should go ahead and focus more on the development of the state. If we overlook development, definitely people won't like us."
Observing that the work will be successful if both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah work together, AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge making hand gestures, said, "If they are apart, it will be difficult. We want them to move forward in the same direction together."
"... if they go together in the same direction, it will be correct. If they go in different directions, it will be difficult," he reiterated, looking at Shivakumar, who was seated on the dias.
Speculation has been rife in the state's political circles, particularly within the ruling Congress, about a potential change in Chief Minister later this year under a "rotational chief minister" or "power-sharing" arrangement.
Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief, is a strong Chief Ministerial aspirant and has made no secret of his ambition to become the CM.
While some Congress leaders have voiced support for Shivakumar to become CM soon, several Ministers and leaders considered close to Siddaramaiah have consistently dismissed any leadership change, asserting that the current CM will continue and complete his full five-year term.
Noting that he is currently the AICC president due to the support of the people of Kalaburagi, Kharge mentioned that sometimes they may have lost their way, hinting at his loss in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The veteran leader suggested that some individuals like Shivakumar and former PM Deve Gowda, try to get things done "through god," while he, on the other hand, strives to achieve progress through the people and for the people. "Whatever it is, good should happen and good should be done," he added.
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21 Congress MLAs leave for foreign tour ahead of budget; leaders say trip is personal
Bengaluru (PTI): At least 21 Congress legislators in Karnataka left for a foreign tour ahead of the state budget on Wednesday, as a power tussle continues within the ruling party.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to present a record 17th budget on March 6, soon after the legislative session begins. The session will continue until March 27.
It is learnt that the MLAs travelling abroad are considered loyal to the CM.
According to Congress sources, 11 MLAs flew out on Tuesday, while 10 others are scheduled to leave for various foreign destinations with their families.
Sources said C Puttaranga Shetty, B Devendrappa, H D Thammaiah, Hampanagouda Badarli, B M Nagaraj, A Vasanth Kumar, D Thimmaiah and Sharanagouda Patil Bayyapur are among those travelling abroad.
The legislators are touring Australia and New Zealand. They will first fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and then continue their journey to Australia and New Zealand, sources added.
The MLAs clarified that the trip is personal and has nothing to do with the party or the government.
"We are going on a private tour. It’s just my family and me," Thammaiah told reporters at the Kempegowda International Airport here.
The Chikkamagaluru MLA said the decision had been taken during the Belagavi legislative session.
"Those interested in the tour are travelling. We often go abroad, but this is the first time it has made news," Thammaiah said.
Badarli sought to clarify that all the MLAs were funding the tour themselves and that it had nothing to do with politics.
"We travel abroad two or three times. Earlier, we visited Muscat, European countries and the United States," he said.
Puttaranga Shetty said the MLAs would return on March 2 or 3.
Responding to suggestions that those travelling belonged to Siddaramaiah’s camp, Shetty said, "The CM is not aware of our trip. Why drag his name into this unnecessarily?"
MLAs considered close to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said there was nothing unusual about "common friends travelling abroad together."
"We too have travelled abroad. What is wrong with that? I was not invited. Our team is different from theirs, but it is not factionalism," MLA H C Balakrishna said.
MLA Ravi Ganiga said no one could remove the incumbent or change the government merely because of a foreign tour, adding that the Congress high command takes appropriate decisions at the right time.
