Congress Rally in Bengaluru: Tension Between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar

During a Congress rally in Bengaluru on Tuesday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appeared visibly frustrated when Youth Congress members started chanting slogans in support of his deputy and intra-party competitor, DK Shivakumar.

The event took place at Freedom Park under the banner of ‘Save NREGA’. It was organised to protest against the BJP-led Central Government’s decision to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the new Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajivika Mission (Gramin) scheme (VB-G RAM G).

Key Figures at the Rally

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were joined on stage by party national general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, along with state ministers, MPs, and legislators.

Contentious Moments on Stage

As Siddaramaiah began his address to the audience, chants of “DK, DK” emerged and quickly escalated. The Chief Minister reprimanded the party workers, inquiring, “Who are those shouting ‘DK, DK’?” An organiser intervened, appealing, “Youth Congress leaders should be quiet. The Chief Minister is addressing the crowd. We recognise who you are. Please listen to the CM in silence.” Nevertheless, the slogans persisted.

In a tweet, former Congress leader Rohan Gupta, who is now affiliated with the BJP, stated in Hindi: “In Bengaluru, the Congress stage has yet again become a battleground for the struggle over leadership. This is not a public movement; it is an internal power struggle within the Congress, where neither the public nor development is significant. Due to these internal conflicts, the Congress is on a path to self-destruction.”

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar’s Ongoing Rivalry

This incident emphasised the continuing rivalry between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. Numerous MLAs and MLCs are reportedly supporting the Deputy Chief Minister, who is thought to have been promised half of the chief ministerial term starting in November. Both leaders have stated their commitment to complying with the party high command’s directives.

Confidence in Leadership

Despite the disruption, Siddaramaiah displayed confidence in completing his full five-year term, asserting that the party high command is solidly supporting him. On stage, moments of cordiality were observed between him and Shivakumar, suggesting that their personal relationship remains intact amidst the political tensions.