No confusion in Cong, party is united, says Shivakumar amid power tussle
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday asserted that the party is united and focused on the 2028 assembly and 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
His remarks come as the Congress government in the state reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, intensifying rumours of a "power-sharing" pact between him and Siddaramaiah that was allegedly made after the 2023 assembly elections.
Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief, was reluctant to disclose the message he is said to have received from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, amid the CM change speculations, and gave indications that he may visit Delhi to meet the party high command in the days ahead.
Denying any confusion or existence of factions, he said, "... no one should demand anything. There are no groups in the party, there is only one group, that is the Congress. Our group has 140 MLAs."
Accusing the opposition BJP of "trying to create confusion", he said the ruling party should not give them the opportunity.
"They are making comments unnecessarily. All 140 of us are together. No one can shake us. I don't want anyone's offer....I'm a Congressman by birth."
Amid reports that Rahul Gandhi had sent a personal message to him, the Deputy CM replied, "What Rahul Gandhi has communicated to me is not a matter to be discussed before the media. There is no need for me to speak about it."
"Our goal is to win Karnataka in 2028 and to win at the national level in 2029, and to make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister. We will work towards this goal."
Asked whether the party would return to power in 2028 under his leadership, Shivakumar said he believed in collective leadership.
"I've been working as the party president for six years. I believe in collective leadership. I believe in party worship, not personality worship," he said.
Declining to comment on the alleged power-sharing agreement for 2.5 years, Shivakumar said, "I don't want to speak about anything in the media. Whatever is there -- party issues, we will discuss within four walls. I will not discuss any political issues in the media."
The Deputy CM indicated that he may visit Delhi to meet the party high command, saying he would seek time if required.
"Today is Samvidhan Day, I could not have gone. Tomorrow there is a cabinet meet, I will not be able to go. After that, definitely, I will seek time if anything is there. Because I want to finalise four MLC seats. I want to reorganise the KPCC trust also. I want to discuss the party properties with senior leaders," he said.
Responding to a question regarding his meeting with senior Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who is considered close to CM Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar said they discussed political strategy and strengthening the party.
He maintained that he has been meeting a lot of other senior party leaders like Zameer Ahmed Khan, K H Muniyappa, and Priyank Kharge, to discuss political strategy. "We want to ensure that the party remains in power in the state and see to it that Rahul Gandhi takes over as the Prime Minister of the country after the 2029 Lok Sabha polls."
"Of course, Satish Jarkiholi had worked with me as a working president (of the party). We have worked together. We are cabinet colleagues, we want to see that in 2028 we come back to power... I always keep meeting them. What's wrong? he is my colleague and senior leader of the party," he said.
To a question that a dinner meeting reportedly called by a section of party leaders has been called off, the Deputy CM said it is good, otherwise a wrong message would have been sent.
He dismissed questions about him planning a meeting with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, during his visit to the state, saying Kharge is coming to attend a marriage in his home state. "This is his Karmabhoomi, he keeps coming, what's wrong?"
Regarding MLAs backing him flying to Delhi to pitch for his CM post, before the high command, Shivakumar claimed he was unaware of it.
"They (MLAs) are ministerial aspirants, and are making efforts for that, after the CM spoke about cabinet reshuffle," he said.
Meanwhile, Shivakumar made a politically loaded statement at the Constitution Day event organised by the state Congress, saying "word power is world power," while referring to fulfilling promises.
"Keeping our word is the biggest power. Be it a judge, the president, me or anybody else, we must keep our word," he emphasised.
This statement came amidst speculations that Shivakumar wants Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to keep his word by stepping down and allowing him to take over as the CM, after the government completed two-and-a-half years.
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Withdraw 'disrespectful' remark against Rahul Gandhi and apologise: Pilot asks Rijiju
Mumbai (PTI): Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday hit out at Union minister Kiren Rijiju for passing a "disrespectful and inappropriate" remark against Rahul Gandhi, and asked him to apologise for it.
He was answering a query regarding Rijiju's reported statement in which he described Gandhi as the "most dangerous person" for India's security, and a purported video of a man claiming to be from Karni Sena issuing death threats to the Congress leader.
Addressing a press conference here, Pilot said, "When ordinary journalists criticise the government, they face FIRs and jail. But when threats are issued against the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (Rahul Gandhi), there is silence. This shows the government's intention. LoP is a constitutional position. To describe him as a security threat is inappropriate and disrespectful. Even as such open threats are being made, the government is not taking any action."
"The statement 9against Gandhi) should be withdrawn and an apology should be issued," the Congress general secretary said, adding that it is the job of the LoP to seek accountability from the government and ask questions.
To a query on the plane crash in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed on January 28, Pilot said, "I do not want to speculate. There should be a transparent, time-bound inquiry. If there are doubts, a high-level investigation should clarify facts."
When asked about the demand for leadership change in the opposition INDIA bloc, he said, "Leadership decisions are internal matters. The alliance worked remarkably well in the last Lok Sabha election. The gap in numbers between the INDIA bloc and the NDA was not very wide. We are working together strongly and will continue to do so."
The Congress has been helming the INDIA bloc, a coalition of Opposition parties formed before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to counter the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, voices from disgruntled Congress members and those associated with the UPA dispensation suggested that the leadership of the opposition alliance should be given to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin.
On Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Indian economy, Pilot said, "India is a major IT power. We have talent and capability. Many countries see India as a natural partner. But we must use our strengths wisely and not compromise our sovereignty under pressure."
"India should have the freedom to decide where to buy oil from. That is a sovereign decision," Pilot said.
On the issue of illegal migration, he said anybody staying illegally in India should be removed regardless of religion or caste.
"But this issue should not be politicised. If the border has been under control for 11 years, how did illegal immigrants enter? The government should provide data on how many people have been deported," he said.
"This government's intent and policies are anti-farmer and there is no accountability. The opposition will continue to demand answers from the government and stand with farmers and the people of India," he said.
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