Discord between Ministers and MLAs in districts adds to Congress’s challenges

Discord is simmering between some Congress legislators and Ministers over Cabinet expansion, fund allocation and alleged interference in constituencies, posing a fresh challenge to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s efforts to keep the flock united.

The growing discord has also brought Mr. Shivakumar’s relationship with Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president B.K. Hariprasad under scrutiny, with the two reportedly differing on several organisational issues.

While the first half of the Congress government’s five-year term was marked by differences between former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar, the second half appears to be witnessing public confrontations between some Ministers and legislators. The discord has surfaced in Shivamogga, Vijayapura, Mysuru, Kolar-Chickballapur and Belagavi districts.

‘Political dynasties’

In Shivamogga, tensions have surfaced between School Education Minister and the district in-charge Madhu Bangarappa and Belur Gopalakrishna, Sagar MLA, who was denied a Cabinet berth. Mr. Gopalakrishna has criticised what he described as “favouritism towards political dynasties”.

The KPCC has also issued a notice to H.S. Sundaresh, former chairman of the Shivamogga-Bhadravathi Urban Development Authority and a former District Congress Committee (DCC) president, over his remarks against party leaders. Mr. Sundaresh had alleged corruption involving people close to Mr. Bangarappa and questioned the appointment of H.C. Yogesh as DCC president. Following this, C.G. Madhusudan replaced Mr. Sundaresh as the authority chief.

In Vijayapura, differences between Minister M.B. Patil and Congress MLAs C.S. Nadagouda and Yashvantharayagouda Patil have escalated. The legislators have accused Mr. Patil of conspiring to prevent them from securing ministerial berths.

An ‘open war’

Yashvantharayagouda Patil had threatened to resign as MLA over the failure to declare his Indi constituency drought-hit. He has also declared an “open war” against the Minister, saying the 2028 Assembly election would become a direct contest between the two.

In Mysuru, former Minister H.C. Mahadevappa’s absence from the swearing-in ceremony of Beerihundi Basavanna as DCC (Rural) president has fuelled speculation about his dissatisfaction with the party leadership. Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah attended the programme. Mr. Mahadevappa is reportedly unhappy over being denied a Cabinet berth.

Former Minister Tanveer Sait is also believed to be dissatisfied with the elevation of Yathindra Siddaramaiah, MLC, to the Cabinet and Minister in-charge of Mysuru district.

In Kolar

Kolar and Chickballapur have emerged as another source of concern for the Chief Minister. Several legislators, including M.C. Sudhakar, K.Y. Nanjegowda, Bangarapet Narayanaswamy, Bagepalli Subbareddy and Kothanur Manjunath reportedly met Mr. Shivakumar to air their grievances against Minister K.H. Muniyappa.

The legislators are said to have sought a probe into alleged financial irregularities at the Kolar-Chickballapur DCC Bank during the tenure of its former chairman, Govinda Gowda. Differences involving Roopakala M. Shashidhar, KGF MLA, have further aggravated the tensions.

In Chickballapur, MLA Pradeep Eshwar’s social media post targeting Mr. Sudhakar’s constituency reportedly triggered resentment. The legislators are believed to have raised their differences with the Chief Minister and urged the party leadership to intervene.

No women Ministers yet

Meanwhile, women legislators have been sulking about the denial of Cabinet berths to them and the appointment of all men as chiefs of DCCs.

The reported differences between Mr. Shivakumar and Mr. Hariprasad over the proposed Political Affairs Committee (PAC), intended to improve coordination between the party organisation and the government, have added another dimension to the internal discord. The KPCC chief’s plan to launch the second leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in 84 constituencies defeated by Congress in 2023 has also believed to have emerged as a point of contention. Now, following the directions of the party high command, the name of Bharat Jodo Yatra has been changed to Jana Jagruthi Yatra.