Bengaluru: Even as Congress President Rahul Gandhi chants the mantra of unity ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the state Congress has a big hurdle to cross – the problem of factionalism – which could mar its prospects of winning a good number of seats in the parliament polls. In 2014, the Congress could win only 9 of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka while the BJP bagged 17.
Home grown Congressmen for one, are none too happy with the concessions made to the JD(S) during formation of the coalition government with the delay in cabinet expansion adding to their anger. Despite the gag orders issued by KPCC president, Mr Dinesh Gundurao, several senior Congress legislators and former ministers have been vocal against the coalition government much to the embarrassment of the top brass.
Congressmen are also unhappy that Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar had been acting like a spokesperson of the coalition partner rather than protect the interest of his own party. They have even questioned the contributions of Dr Parameshwar to the party in the recent Assembly polls when he restricted himself to Koratagere Assembly constituency in Tumkuru fearing he would lose like he did in 2013.
A former Congress minister on the condition of anonymity told Deccan Chronicle that the state Congress unit had three factions-one owing allegiance to former CM and Coordination Committee Chairman Siddaramaiah, the other actively involved in campaigning in social media to make Mr Rahul Gandhi the next prime minister and the third group that of ‘sidelined’ Congressmen who are not being taken into confidence when important decisions are made.
Even the decision to form the coalition government with the JD(S) to keep the BJP out of power was made by a group of leaders who did not bother to understand its repurcussions in the coming Lok Sabha polls, said sources. They feel original Congressmen are sore that who joined the Congress along with Mr Siddaramaiah a decade ago are enjoying the fruits of power while those who started their political journey in the Congress, are suffering in silence.
These sources cite the manner in which Siddaramaiah got his supporters inducted in the Council of Ministers by sidelining senior leaders and even managed to make a first time MLC, Ms Jayamala a minister neglecting senior leaders like Mr H.M. Revanna, Mr S.R. Patil and Mr V.S. Ugrappa. Even first time MLAs had been made ministers. What has annoyed them further is the fact that leaders like Mr Siddaramaiah and Dr Parameshwar are keeping quiet despite Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy bulldozing welfare programmes launched by the previous government. Given this situation and the fact that the Modi wave is still prevalent across the country, the BJP has an edge over the Congress in the coming Lok Sabha polls, the sources added.
