Amid an ongoing leadership dispute, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed displeasure at slogans backing Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar during a protest against the scrapping of the MGNREGA Act by the Centre. Supporters of Shivakumar started chanting his name as Siddaramaiah prepared to speak, leading to a tense moment. The Chief Minister, visibly annoyed, requested silence from Shivakumar’s supporters.
The situation escalated as the slogans in favor of Shivakumar grew louder, prompting Siddaramaiah to question the chanters sternly. The incident unfolded in the presence of AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala. A video capturing the episode has circulated widely on social media, sparking discussions among supporters of both leaders.
Former Congress member Rohan Gupta, now with the BJP, criticized the party for the internal discord, describing the event as a power struggle rather than a people’s movement. The leadership conflict within the Congress has heightened, with the high command expected to intervene post the Shivarathri festival. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have committed to respecting the high command’s decision.
