Internal Strife Erupts in Karnataka Congress After MLC Election Losses
The Congress party faces internal conflict in Karnataka following defeats in recent MLC elections, igniting a war of words among leaders.
Bengaluru, November 3 (Daily Kiran) : The Congress party in Karnataka is facing significant internal turmoil following its defeat in all four seats during the recent Legislative Council elections. This loss has sparked a war of words between former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s and current Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s supporters.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured all four seats, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning three and the Janata Dal (Secular) claiming one.
Former minister and Congress MLA K.N. Rajanna stated that controversies surrounding a sting operation have severely damaged the party’s image, potentially contributing to its poor performance in the elections.
In response, Minister for Urban Development H.C. Balakrishna accused Rajanna and his son of failing to support the party’s candidates and engaging in anti-party activities. He called for disciplinary action against them.
Speaking to reporters, Rajanna emphasized that the sting operation scandal likely influenced the election results. He pointed out that the voters in the graduate and teacher constituencies are educated and capable of analyzing political events before making their decisions.
He highlighted that despite having 26 legislators in the southeastern constituency where the MLC elections were held, the party still faced defeat, raising concerns about the situation. Rajanna noted that statements from Siddaramaiah regarding not campaigning also sent a negative message to the electorate. He firmly believed that these factors collectively impacted the party’s standing.
Rajanna suggested that all party members should take responsibility for the loss. He proposed that if a proper assessment of the situation is made, all 26 legislators, including himself, should resign. He insisted on accountability and suggested that those who fail to deliver should face consequences.
In a sharp rebuttal to Rajanna’s comments, Balakrishna claimed that neither Rajanna nor his son effectively campaigned for the Congress candidates during the elections. He challenged them to swear an oath regarding their contributions to the party’s efforts.
Balakrishna accused Rajanna and his son of engaging in activities against the party and questioned their conduct during the campaign, alleging that they took photos with central minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy before the elections concluded.
He asserted that Rajanna lacks the moral authority to speak on the party’s performance and warned that if the party does not take action against those working against it, it will face difficulties in the future. Balakrishna stressed that standing with party workers and contributing to the organization is more important than merely winning or losing elections.
He urged Rajanna to clarify whether he and his son supported Congress candidates during the campaign. Balakrishna questioned if any sting operation had been conducted against Rajanna and stated that if he wishes to leave the party, he is free to do so. However, he cautioned that Rajanna cannot betray the party while remaining a member. He called for responsible behavior from all party members.
