Why Congress can't blame BJP for latest political mess in Karnataka

If the BJP were looking for a way to attack the Congress in Karnataka, they can take a day off and still come out winners. The ruling party is doing a rather thorough job of blowing itself up in the state.

In the past few days, we’ve had one Congress MLA threatening resignation over delayed development funds (Rs 25 crore worth, no less), another caught in a viral audio clip lamenting alleged bribe-for-house scams, a third one demanding the Housing Minister's resignation, and a fourth swearing on God that DK Shivakumar will be the next Chief Minister – even as the current one is very much still on the job.

GUESS WHO’S CHIEF MINISTER THIS WEEK?

The not-so-subtle tug-of-war between the loyalists of Karnataka’s two top Congress leaders, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar are back at it again. This time, with divine backing, no less.

The latest flare-up came when Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain proclaimed, hand-on-heart, and apparently on God, that DK Shivakumar would definitely become the next Chief Minister. “He will definitely become Chief Minister, 200%. I swear on God Madevappa,” he said.

Congress MLC Nagaraj Yadav stepped in with a reality check, and referred to himself in the third person, no less. He asked: “What do you mean next time? Is Iqbal the deciding authority? Is Nagaraj a deciding authority?

Of course, this is not the first time such a prophecy has caused unrest. Earlier, when discussions about a “2.5-year formula” surfaced, where Siddaramaiah would step down mid-term for DK Shivakumar, the party went into overdrive with gag orders. AICC’s Randeep Surjewala even told leaders to zip it.

CONGRESS VS CONGRESS, PART INFINITY

While the fight for future leadership rages on, a leaked audio clip is questioning the party’s present.

In a conversation between senior Congress MLA BR Patil and Sarfaraz Khan, personal assistant to Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, Patil is heard accusing officials from the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation of large-scale corruption, claiming that housing allotments were made only to those who paid bribes.

Patil can be heard stating that his official recommendations for beneficiaries were ignored in favour of those who paid officials, alleging corruption in the distribution of nearly 950 houses in his Aland constituency. He warned that if the list of beneficiaries was made public, it could “shake the government.”

In response to the allegations, senior Congress MLC Belur Gopalkrishna publicly called for the resignation of Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan to allow a fair and transparent investigation into the matter.

Speaking to the media, Gopalkrishna stated, “A senior MLA has made these accusations, and the concerned minister should resign and face an investigation. There are no two ways about it.” He added that similar resignations had occurred in the past when ministers were under investigation, and asserted that such action would only uphold the integrity of the party and government.

Adding to the infighting, Raju Kage, Congress MLA from Kagwad, threatened to resign over what he described as “inaction” and “neglect” by the state administration. Speaking at a public meeting in Ainapur, Belagavi district, Kage said that despite Rs 25 crore being sanctioned for development works in his constituency, not a single work order had been issued in the last two years.

Kage expressed disappointment with the lack of progress, stating, “Despite submitting proposals, not a single work order has been approved. Why does it take two years just to begin the work?”

Kage also drew a parallel with BR Patil’s situation and said he supported Patil’s statements. He hinted at submitting his resignation, though he did not clarify whether he meant resigning as MLA or as chairman of North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation.

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