Karnataka: Rahul Gandhi Sounds the Poll Bugle, but Infighting Remains a Concern

New Delhi: Former Congress chief minister Siddaramaiah’s 75th birthday celebrations in Davangere transformed into his show of strength on Wednesday, in what was clear signalling from the septuagenarian leader that his rivalry with the Pradesh Congress Committee president D.K. Shivakumar is unlikely to end soon. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi flew down to the southern state to attend the former chief minister’s birthday event but used the day to address the escalating infighting between the two party camps over the last few months.

Assembly elections in Karnataka are scheduled in 2023. Given the state’s electoral history of changing governments every five years, the Congress is eyeing a shot at power. However, the infighting between camps helmed by the topmost Congress leaders has only made matters murkier for the grand old party. Leaders of both the camps seem to not miss even a single window to hit out at each other, even as the party is preparing its campaign against the ruling Basavaraj Bommai-led Bharatiya Janata Party state government.

The Bommai government is battling a series of corruption allegations, so much so that it has come to be popularly referred to as “40% commission” government – a moniker it has earned after a government contractor Santosh Patil allegedly died by suicide days after he dramatically claimed that a state minister K.S Eshwarappa demanded 40% kickbacks to clear his bills for completed road works.

In his speech on Wednesday, Gandhi continuously brought up the charges of corruption against the Bommai government and spoke about a series of welfare initiatives for the poor during the previous Congress governments. In what may be seen as Gandhi sounding the poll bugle, it is clear that Congress’s primary plank in the run-up to the polls will be to corner the BJP-led state government on the basis of corruption allegations against it.

He claimed that the BJP government in the state was trying to deflect attention from real issues of people and its corruption by indulging in “divisive politics”. “They bow before Basavanna’s statue but steal from people’s pockets. Basavanna said be honest and say what you believe. But the opposite is being done by the BJP,” Gandhi said, referring to the venerated 12th century Lingayat philosopher and saint, at the packed public meeting at the Lingayat community-dominated Davangere. He added that the Bommai government has distributed people’s wealth to a few industrialists and businessmen.

Also Read: From ‘Basavanna Model’ to ‘Yogi Model’: The Fall of Karnataka Under Basavaraj Bommai

Crucially, Gandhi espoused Siddaramaiah’s leadership in his speech, claiming that he shared a special bond with the former chief minister who showed “compassion for the poor and weak” during his tenure. At the same time, he claimed that the Congress stood united in its fight against the BJP, moments after Shivakumar felicitated and embraced Siddaramaiah in what was meant to be a public show of unity.

Much of the show sprung out of a key meeting that Gandhi steered with the state leaders ahead of the Davangere public meeting. Gandhi is said to have given stern directions to the two rival Congress camps to keep their ambitions in check and urged them not to discuss internal matters and leadership conflicts on public platforms.

Echoing his view, K.C. Venugopal, the party’s general secretary (organisation) said, “The entire leadership of Karnataka will join hands together and win Karnataka in the 2023 polls…..unknowingly or knowingly some statements are made here and there before the media. Don’t fall for that trap, party leaders should not speak in different voices inside or outside.”

It remains to be seen whether the top two Congress leaders in Karnataka will follow suit in the days to come. Both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are strong-headed and are perceived as possessing different abilities. An observer in Karnataka, who didn’t wish to be named, believed that Shivakumar’s leadership can hold the diverse Congress’s flock together and it was important for the grand old party to give him independence to keep the Congress’s prospects alive in the next assembly polls. However, he also added that Siddaramaiah commands greater respect and stature among different communities of Karnataka with respect to the Shivakumar, and may work as a better electoral face for the party.

Infighting aside, the Congress truly faces a dilemma of choosing one over the other. As Gandhi indicated in his speech, the party is looking to bury the confusion without any resolution until the elections and focus on attacking the BJP-led government. However, frequent statements by the two camps against each other have only drawn media attention to the infighting – and as a result, rendered the Congress campaign largely ineffective.

Running roughshod over all such opposition attacks, chief minister Bommai has, however, completely ditched his socialist political upbringing and instead focussed his attention to polarising the state on religious lines. During his tenure, hardline Hindutva has received an unprecedented impetus, even as the chief minister has taken care to be seen as a blatant Hindu supporter. He has been blatantly partisan in dealing with the recent spate of communal killings and has spoken about emulating the “Yogi model” of Uttar Pradesh to deal with political violence, while also promoting hardline leaders in the BJP ranks on the ground. 

Following Gandhi’s message to the party leaders, the ball is in Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar’s court. The next few months will define whether the leaders are willing to set aside their mutual dislike of each other and work towards advancing the possibility of an electoral victory.

If you know someone – friend or family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. The Suicide Prevention India Foundation maintains a list of telephone numbers (www.spif.in/seek-help/) they can call to speak in confidence. You could also refer them to the nearest hospital.