DK Shivakumar Vs Siddaramaiah: The internal strife of Congress in Karnataka has now come to the fore. The growing controversy over the Chief Minister’s chair has not only destabilized the politics of the state, but has also increased concerns of indiscipline within the party. Amidst this political turmoil, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister M. Veerappa Moily has openly targeted the high command. He clearly said that the party leadership is directly responsible for the anarchy seen in Karnataka.
‘Bring discipline, otherwise’
M. Veerappa Moily described the situation in Karnataka Congress as chaotic and said that at present a free-for-all situation has arisen in the party. He warned that if the situation continues to deteriorate like this, the opposition BJP will be successful in harming the Congress on every front.
Moily said that discipline has ended in the party.
Siddaramaiah vs Shivakumar: Questions on the silence of the high command
Moily clarified that he did not want to comment on whether Siddaramaiah should remain the Chief Minister or whether DK Shivakumar should get a chance. He says that the issue is not who should hold the chair, but why the top leaders of the party are allowing this controversy to grow.
Moily’s main allegations
- The high command did not handle the situation in Karnataka in time.
- Damage to party image due to interference of Swamiji and communities.
- The chair dispute was allowed to reach its ‘climax’.
- Congress failed to enforce discipline in its own house.
- BJP can take political advantage of this.
- Moily’s displeasure over the support given to Shivakumar.
When a Swamiji openly demanded to make DK Shivakumar the Chief Minister, Moily became very strict. He said that religious leaders or community leaders should not take any side in the race for Chief Minister. This is like breaking the party and increases indiscipline. According to Moily, such interference is not in the interest of Congress and it sends a wrong signal to the public.
Reprimand to the high command – Why were the decisions not taken at the right time?
Moily alleged that the high command never seriously understood the internal tensions in Karnataka in the last two and a half to three years. He said that this dispute did not arise suddenly, rather it was brewing continuously for six years, but the leadership did not pay attention to it.
The high command should immediately call Siddaramaiah and Shivkumar to Delhi and resolve the matter: Moily
Moily’s demands
- The high command should immediately call Siddaramaiah and Shivkumar to Delhi and resolve the matter.
- Both the leaders should be instructed to stop from making public statements for the time being.
- Accountability of the state-in-charge should be fixed.
- Discipline should be restored in the party.
- Clear responsibility should be fixed for the future.
Moily said that if the leadership had intervened in time, the fire would not have reached this level. He said that the people elect Congress but the party is not able to manage it, this is the biggest problem.
