Shivakumar's early exit casts shadowon Karnataka chief minister's show of strength in Mysuru
Siddaramaiah
's political might in Mysuru was marred by the conspicuous early departure of deputy CM
DK Shivakumar
, adding fuel to ongoing speculation about growing rifts within the party's state leadership.
Held at the historic Maharaja's College Grounds Saturday, the Sadhana Samavesha was intended to be a grand celebration of the Congress govt's two and a half years of performance.
However, Shivakumar's abrupt exit—soon after delivering a brief speech and before Siddaramaiah's address—drew attention away from the event's message and onto the internal dynamics of the governing party.
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Though Shivakumar had travelled from Bengaluru specifically to attend the event, he left the venue just moments after the programme began.
His exit came while Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge was addressing the crowd, and before Siddaramaiah took the centrestage. The move left many party workers and attendees surprised and disappointed.
Siddaramaiah made no effort to conceal his displeasure. When the audience shouted for Shivakumar to be named during his speech, the chief minister responded curtly: "I will only take the names of people who are on the dais, not those who have left.
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I have referred to the names of the dignitaries who are on the dais. Since Shivakumar has left for Bengaluru, I have left out his name," Siddaramaiah said in a pointed remark that underlined the simmering tensions within the state's Congress leadership.
Adding to the intrigue, Shivakumar was also scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by Chamarajanagar MP Sunil Bose. However, he cancelled that plan too. "Shivakumar planned to visit our home for lunch.
He informed me that he needed to return to Bengaluru early," Bose told TOI.
According to sources close to the deputy chief minister, Shivakumar was suffering from a mild fever. Still, his sudden departure and failure to inform the crowd about it did not go unnoticed.
Despite the distraction, Siddaramaiah appeared in full command of the stage. In a dramatic entry, he walked down a specially erected ramp at the centre of the venue—departing from the usual protocol of entering from the left side of the dais.
He was showered with flower petals as he moved through cheering supporters holding up his portraits.
Though Shivakumar and Kharge, were also present earlier, Siddaramaiah hogged all the limelight as he led the walk alone, soaking in the crowd's enthusiasm.
BJP, JD(S) spreading lies: Siddaramaiah
Addressing a massive gathering that consisted largely of minority supporters, Siddaramaiah launched a scathing attack on BJP and JD(S), accusing them of spreading misinformation about his govt.
Highlighting the Congress' five guarantee schemes, he alleged that all BJP-governed states are copying them.
He also threw the gauntlet to the opposition BJP-JD(S), challenging them to a public debate on the Congress govt's achievements. "Let them come and debate openly. The development under our govt is the ultimate rebuttal to their web of lies," Siddaramaiah said.
The CM's rally echoed a similar event held on Aug 9 last year at the same venue. The 2024 event was intended to counter the BJP-JDS padayatra over the Muda scam and to reassert Siddaramaiah's political clout in his home turf of Mysuru.
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