Cracking the whip on party MLAs, leaders and ministers against making open remarks on issues such as cabinet reshuffle and leadership change, Congress general secretary incharge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala on Wednesday warned of action against those violating party discipline.
He spoke to the media after a meeting with Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, state Congress president DK Shivakumar, and chief minister Siddaramaiah, regarding issues related to the party and the government in the state as well as preparations for 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
“We have briefly discussed the issue of various statements made by some of our ministers and MLAs and I have told KPCC president — anybody falling out of party line, we have warned and I again warn very clearly and categorically — no minister, no MLA, no party leader should be violating the party discipline,” Surjewala said.
After a two-and-a-half hour meeting at the state Congress headquarters in Bengaluru, he said anybody who does so, is doing a huge disservice to the party, and if anybody does not fall in line, then the party would have to think of taking appropriate action.
“We want the entire state cadre, be it block Congress president, district president, frontal organisation, MLA, MLA candidates who could not make it, ministers and other functionaries in the government, to always look at adhering to party discipline and ensure that the party’s agenda is implemented,” he said, adding that this has been conveyed in no uncertain terms and “if necessary we will have to crack the whip”.
Certain recent developments in the state Congress indicate that all is not well within the ruling party that swept to power by ousting the BJP with a thumping majority in the assembly polls held in May. Suggesting anyone with difference of opinion are welcome to discuss with him and express, Surjewala said they can also go to party general secretary – organisation, Congress national president or the chief minister and convey their opinion.
“But we will not accept public statements on that account,” he added.
Responding to a specific question on statements by certain MLAs about cabinet reshuffle, he said no party MLA is authorised to say such things, and what the party will do is within the party forum. “There is a government in place and we are running that government efficiently and MLAs should be looking at development of their constituency and restrict themselves to look at the agenda of progress and development that the Congress party is setting out to do,” he said, adding that having aspiration is always good and it is the duty of the party to ensure that everybody’s aspirations are addressed and they get a role to play in the progress of the state.
Regarding remarks about the chief minister or leadership change, Surjewala said they are completely out of line and that MLAs and ministers have been warned against it, saying it is not their duty or job. Congress Mandya MLA Ravikumar Gowda’s (Ravi Ganiga) recent claim that deputy CM DK Shivakumar will become the CM after two-and-a-half years of the government’s tenure, had created a buzz within the ruling party circles, with some ministers saying that the incumbent Siddaramaiah will complete a full term and some others saying it is for the high command to decide.
Debate about the possibility of cabinet reshuffle had come to fore with the government’s chief whip in the legislative assembly, Ashok Pattan recently claiming that Surjewala and Venugopal have assured him that there will be a cabinet reshuffle after two-and-a-half years, in which senior leaders like him will be accommodated. Also, recent developments such as Siddaramaiah’s dinner meeting at home minister G Parameshwara’s residence along with a couple of ministers and PWD minister Satish Jarkiholi — who is said to be miffed — reportedly planning a trip to Dubai along with 50 former and current MLAs, and pitch for three more deputy CMs — have added to lot of speculation within the ruling Congress in the state.
Noting that issues of formation of boards and corporations were discussed at their meeting, Surejewala said two or three more rounds of discussions are likely to be held in this regard, and the party is looking at appointing both party cadres as well as legislators (both MLAs and MLCs) as heads of these bodies.
“The discussions will continue. I’m in charge of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh at present. Elections will be over on November 17 there, and immediately I will be back here to carry forward the discussion on appointments to boards and corporations,” he said.
Appointments to boards and corporations is said to be among the issues on which both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have certain differences of opinion, as per party sources. Sharing details of the discussions regarding preparations for the ensuing parliamentary elections, Surjewala said Karnataka is at the centre point of Congress party’s strategy, and both the CM and state chief have assured that the party will win more than 20 seats (out of total 28).
“We, in fact, hope to completely sweep the polls and raise the number to about 25 plus seats,” he said.
The process of identifying the LS poll candidates must begin without any delay, and he will kickstart his tour of different constituencies after the five state polls conclude by the end of this month. Averring that the party hopes that its guarantees, which have been implemented, will ensure the party’s victory in the Lok Sabha polls, he said the KPCC president and the CM have been requested to identify the set of candidates by calling meeting of legislators from each parliamentary constituency, district or block Congress committees, leaders of frontal organisations and other leaders, to discuss possible candidates.
Reorganisation of the state unit was also deliberated at the meeting, the general secretary said adding that a proposal will soon be presented to the national president Mallikarjun Kharge. After discussion with him, there will be a rejig, as many office-bearers are MLAs or ministers, and new younger talent should be given organisational responsibility by replacing them.
The meeting also briefly reviewed the Congress government’s guarantee programme and how they are getting implemented on the ground, Surjewala said. It was pointed out that regular audit is ongoing and, wherever there is a deficiency, the concerned minister and ministry are addressing those issues to ensure maximum beneficiaries are covered.
Comments
0 comment