- Youth Congress workers raise slogans for DK Shivakumar
- Siddaramaiah shouts at workers during rally
- Protest held against replacing MGNREGA with new scheme
- Incident highlights ongoing power tussle in Karnataka Congress
GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 27th Jan: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday lost his cool and shouted at Youth Congress workers who raised slogans in favour of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar during a Congress protest rally in the city.
Siddaramaiah, along with Shivakumar, Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, ministers, MPs and legislators, was participating in a protest against the proposed replacement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with a new rural employment scheme — Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajivika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G).
As the Chief Minister rose to address the gathering, party workers began shouting “DK, DK”, with the sloganeering growing louder as he approached the podium. Visibly annoyed, Siddaramaiah shouted at the workers and asked them to keep quiet.
“Who are those shouting ‘DK, DK’?” an angry Siddaramaiah was heard asking senior Congress leaders on the stage.
The compere intervened and appealed to the crowd, saying that Youth Congress leaders should remain silent as the Chief Minister was addressing the gathering. However, some workers continued to attempt to interrupt even after Siddaramaiah began his speech.
The incident once again brought to the fore the ongoing power tussle within the Karnataka Congress between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. Several party MLAs and MLCs have previously lobbied on behalf of the Deputy Chief Minister, fuelling speculation over leadership dynamics in the state unit.
Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have publicly stated that they would abide by the decision of the Congress high command. The Chief Minister has also reiterated that he has full faith that he will complete his five-year term and that the party leadership is backing him.
