In the backdrop of Congress’ poor performance in the recently concluded Assembly polls, its dependence on Karnataka — the biggest amongst the few States it holds power in — has tremendously increased. But the State Congress leaders and the State government seem to continue with their infighting unabated.
Despite serious controversies faced by the government and the Chief Minister, there seems to be little effort to revive a mechanism that could ensure better coordination between the party leadership and the State government, according to several senior leaders who have now begun voicing their concern openly.
They pointed out that the coordination panel constituted soon after the Congress came to power in 2013 in Karnataka, to bring about a better understanding between the party and its government, has not met for a year now. This is despite the government facing controversies regarding the formation of Anti-Corruption Bureau, corruption allegations, and agrarian crisis.
The panel, headed by AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Digvijaya Singh, was constituted to ensure that the government, in particular Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, does not take unilateral decisions on major policy matters.
Several controversial decisions such as the formation of the ACB, appointments to the Lokayukta and Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), selection of party candidate for the Hebbal constituency, and execution of Netravati diversion project could have been resolved amicably if the panel had discussed them, according to former Minister and KPCC vice-president B.K. Chandrashekar.
The panel was mandated to meet every month.
Besides Mr. Singh, Home Minister and KPCC president G. Parameshwara (convener), Mr. Siddaramaiah, Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George, and AICC secretaries in-charge of Karnataka Selva Kumar and Shantakumar Naik are the other panel members.
The government has done a commendable job on the drought front and implementation of some schemes. Striking a good balance between the party and the government would have further enhanced the government’s image in public, said Prof. Chandrashekar.
His comments come in the backdrop of several veteran leaders such as former Union Minister B. Janardhana Poojary, former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna, the former Minister A.H. Vishwanath, criticising Mr. Siddaramaiah, particularly his style of functioning.
However, sources close to Mr. Siddaramaiah pointed out that “if given space”, several Congress leaders insist on interfering in every administrative decision, making it virtually impossible to govern the State. They argued that the Chief Minister has been in constant touch with the party high command and has a clear brief on this matter. Sources also pointed out that Mr. Siddaramaiah’s position seems have become stronger as the party high command, post the defeat in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala and Assam, is in no mood to unsettle the situation in Karnataka.
Several controversial decisions could have been resolved amicably if the panel had discussed them. Striking a good balance between the party and the government would have further enhanced the latter’s image in public
B.K. Chandrashekar,KPCC vice-president
