Bengaluru, Aug 6 (IANS) The Congress’ efforts to contain dissidence following the recent Karnataka Cabinet expansion suffered another setback on Thursday after an internal conversation between two senior party leaders surfaced, even as fresh political developments indicated that disgruntlement within the ruling party was far from over.
A video of a meeting between prominent leaders and former Ministers H.K. Patil and Dinesh Gundu Rao at Patil’s residence surfaced on social media, showing the two leaders discussing the Cabinet expansion and questioning the criteria adopted for selecting ministers.
In the purported conversation, one of the leaders is heard saying that it was difficult to understand the standards applied while choosing ministers.
“On what criterion were the selections made? I don’t know the standards that were applied. This is the first time I am witnessing something like this. New standards have been adopted, and I am unable to understand the criteria,” the leader is heard saying in the video, while H.K. Patil is seen smiling during the exchange.
The video has embarrassed the Congress leadership at a time when Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, AICC Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala and KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad are engaged in efforts to pacify leaders who were denied Cabinet berths.
Speaking to reporters after meeting H.K. Patil, former Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao sought to downplay the controversy, asserting that the Cabinet expansion was now a “closed chapter”.
“We have served as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee presidents and ministers. As legislators, our priority will continue to be the development of our respective constituencies,” he said.
Gundu Rao said he had visited Patil as the latter is a senior leader. He added that he could not hold detailed discussions with him the previous day as B.K. Hariprasad and several other Congress leaders had also visited Patil’s residence.
Describing the party leadership’s outreach to dissatisfied leaders as a positive step, Gundu Rao said there was nothing wrong with the Brahmin community seeking representation in the Cabinet.
“Many communities have not been represented in the new Cabinet. Such a situation has not arisen earlier,” he said.
He also stated that he had conveyed his views on the Cabinet expansion to Hariprasad.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet expansion continued to generate discontent among legislators identified with the AHINDA bloc, who are reportedly unhappy over the selection process.
Sources indicated that senior Congress leader and former Minister H.C. Mahadevappa left for New Delhi on Thursday and is expected to meet the party’s national leadership.
The move comes amid reports that several leaders are upset over the list of names reportedly recommended by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during discussions with Surjewala on the Cabinet expansion.
According to party sources, some legislators believe Siddaramaiah recommended only a limited number of names while several of his close associates and loyalists were left out of the final list, leading to resentment within the faction.
Mahadevappa, considered a close confidant of Siddaramaiah, had earlier publicly differed with CM Shivakumar on several issues and had also advocated the creation of additional Deputy Chief Minister posts during Siddaramaiah’s tenure.
Party insiders said dissatisfied legislators feel Siddaramaiah did not strongly press their claims before the party high command during the Cabinet expansion exercise.
With protests, resignations and expressions of dissatisfaction continuing from various parts of Karnataka, the Congress leadership faces an uphill task in restoring unity after the Cabinet expansion, despite sustained efforts by senior leaders to contain the rebellion.
–IANS
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