Many power centres in Karnataka Congress, Siddaramaiah not like before: Minister

Karnataka Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna sparked controversy by suggesting that there has been a rise of multiple power centres in the state Congress unit.

“Between 2013 and 2018, there was just one power centre. Today, there are one, two, three and several power centres,” Rajanna said, without naming anyone. He added that when power centres multiply, the “push and pull” within the party also increases.

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has to take forward both the party and the government accordingly,” he said, indicating that managing competing factions is now a major challenge for the leadership.

In a veiled comment on Siddaramaiah’s leadership, Rajanna remarked that many believe the Siddaramaiah of today is not the same as the one between 2013 and 2018. “

This wasn’t the first time Rajanna appeared to defy the party’s functioning; his sudden absence from the crucial Apex Bank meeting in March had also raised eyebrows.

The meeting, scheduled at Rajanna’s office, was to discuss a no-confidence resolution against the Apex Bank chairman, a decision that required consultation with all directors.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, several Congress MLAs, and officials had gathered for the meeting. But in a dramatic turn, Rajanna, who was supposed to chair it, skipped the meeting at the last minute. This was despite him attending the Assembly session earlier in the day. His office informed the waiting leaders that the minister’s health had suddenly deteriorated. Following this, Shivakumar and the other MLAs were seen leaving Rajanna’s chamber without any discussion taking place.

Party insiders suggested there was more to it than just illness. According to sources, Rajanna’s relationship with Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, had soured.

The two leaders had reportedly not spoken for days, and Rajanna had made public statements critical of Shivakumar. His sudden absence from the crucial meeting was seen by some as an attempt to avoid a direct confrontation.

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