DK Shivakumar may soon be replaced as state Congress chief after minister's mining missive upsets party brass
After nearly five years at the helm of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar may soon be replaced, with the Congress high command initiating moves to reshuffle the state unit. Ministers Satish Jarkiholi and Eshwar Khandre are being considered frontrunners for the post, top government sources indicated.
The matter was discussed during two high-level meetings held in Delhi, one with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday evening and another with AICC general secretary KC Venugopal on Wednesday. The meetings also took up a recent letter by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil that has reportedly drawn the high command's ire.
A senior source who accompanied Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on his Delhi visit said the discussions were primarily focused on party affairs in Karnataka. 'The high command has reacted positively about the demands and is currently looking at options to replace KPCC president,' the source said, adding that either Jarkiholi or Khandre could take over if they agree to relinquish their Cabinet positions.
The Congress leadership had earlier delayed replacing Shivakumar, despite speculation that he would be removed after the party came to power in May 2023. He managed to retain not only the KPCC president's post but also two key portfolios, Bengaluru Development and Water Resources, in the Siddaramaiah Cabinet.
The delegation to Delhi, led by the Chief Minister, included ministers KJ George, Dr HC Mahadevappa, and Jarkiholi, all considered part of Siddaramaiah's core team in the state Congress.
The leadership is also said to be upset over Patil's letter, which criticised the government's handling of illegal mining cases. 'Between 2007 and 2011, massive treachery took place in Karnataka in the form of illegal mining.
Politicians and bureaucrats systematically looted the state's wealth. The government lost Rs 1.5 lakh crore. But in spite of such large-scale loot, the government has not demonstrated honesty and commitment in ensuring commensurate punishment for the loot and recovery of the state's wealth,' Patil wrote.
According to the source, 'Kharge, Venugopal and CM are on the same page about the issue. They are very unhappy about Patil taking up the issue publicly as being a minister, he could take it up in the Cabinet meeting. Moreover, some assertions made in the letter are factually incorrect.'
There are indications that Patil may face disciplinary action, with the high command viewing the letter as having dented the party's image in the state.
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