The rift within the Karnataka Congress over replacing the chief minister and the state party president has now led to a few ministers demanding the recall of AICC general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, alleging a "partisan attitude".
The ministers in the Siddaramaiah faction expressed their displeasure over Surjewala's "preferential" treatment of the incumbent state party chief D.K. Shivakumar at Belagavi, after the former held a separate meeting with Shivakumar and his brother D.K. Suresh instead of calling a meeting of all the local leaders and ministers.
Surjewala who landed in Belagavi two days before the 'Gandhi Bharata' event (on January 21), had ruled out the replacement of the KPCC chief and met minister Satish Jarkiholi after holding a separate meeting with the DK brothers. A miffed Jarkiholi maintained distance from Shivakumar, while his supporters heckled Surjewala during the preparatory meeting.
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The rebel ministers have reportedly urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to complain to Rahul Gandhi against Surjewala and seek his recall from the state.
The Siddaramaiah faction believes that Surjewala favours Shivakumar and was responsible for stalling the dinner meeting of Dalit ministers to be hosted by Home Minister G. Parameshwara recently and also hijacking the "Swabhimani Samavesha"—an event meant to honour Siddaramaiah at Hassan in December last. The event, initially planned by the chief minister's well-wishers and friends and named “Siddaramaiah Swabhimani Janandolana Samavesha” turned into a party affair and renamed "Jana Kalyana Samavesha” to celebrate the achievements of the Congress government.
Satish Jarkiholi, who has been vocal in his demand for a "full-time" state party president, has been at loggerheads with Shivakumar for allegedly challenging the Jarkiholi brothers and their clout in Belagavi by pushing for Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar.
This time, Shivakumar's meeting with Asif Seth, a close aide of Satish has triggered unrest once again in the Congress.
Annoyed over the turn of events, Shivakumar who has been patiently waiting for his turn to become the chief minister, dismissed the developments as false.
"I have no differences with any leader. I treat ministers, MLAs and party workers equally as I am holding an important position. I don't want to divert the issue as we are here to celebrate an event that laid a good foundation for the party's growth. We have achieved everything through great sacrifice. In my case, I too have sacrificed the CM's post twice. First, when Dharam Singh became the chief minister and second, when Siddaramaiah became the chief minister," said Shivakumar adding to the intrigue.
