Bengaluru, August 6: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar dismissed reports of discontent within the ruling Congress party following the recent cabinet expansion. He emphasized that the party remains united and that discussions with dissenting leaders were held in a positive atmosphere.
Shivakumar’s remarks came after a meeting with senior Congress legislator M. Krishnaappa and his son, Priya Krishna, at their residence in Vijayanagar, Bengaluru. Krishnaappa had expressed dissatisfaction over not being appointed as a minister. After meeting with reporters, Shivakumar stated, “There are no dissenters in the party. It was a healthy discussion. We need to take care of our leaders, distribute responsibilities, and strategize. There is no question of dissent. Where is the dissent? Everything is fine; there are no issues.”
The Chief Minister referred to the disappointed legislators as “qualified, senior, and loyal leaders,” noting that the leadership merely aimed to clarify the circumstances surrounding the cabinet expansion.
In response to criticism from Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President B.Y. Vijayendra regarding the internal dynamics of Congress, Shivakumar refused to engage directly with the opposition leader. He remarked, “I do not want to respond to Vijayendra. He should first work on improving himself. He needs to organize his own house. The defeat in the MLC elections has shown him the exit from the party.”
After the meeting, M. Krishnaappa stated that both the Chief Minister and Surjewala acknowledged the mistakes made in the cabinet formation and assured him that corrections would be made.
Krishnaappa mentioned, “The Chief Minister and Surjewala came and told me that some mistakes were made, and they will rectify them. It is up to them.”
Priya Krishna also described the meeting as positive, focusing on the issue of her father’s exclusion from the cabinet. She stated, “It was about my father’s candidacy for the cabinet. They have acknowledged that a mistake was made and will rectify it as soon as possible. It depends on the party.”
Reiterating her loyalty to Congress, Priya Krishna asserted that neither she nor her father would resort to pressure tactics.
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