Randeep Surjewala's Bengaluru Visit Sparks Leadership Speculation, But Congress Says Focus Is 2028

Bengaluru, July 1: The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee on Queen's road in Bengaluru was full of activities on Tuesday, where AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala continued his interaction with party MLAs for the second day.

While Surjewala told the mediapersons that the leadership change was  not on the party agenda and he did not elicit information from the MLAs over changing the Chief Minister, the MLAs poured their hearts out on issues ranging from their constituency problems, corruption and even the internal bickering in district levels.

At the end, Surjewala let Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar handle the issue and make a statement to mitigate the speculations. D K Shivakumar said that Surjewala's visit and meeting with MLAs was about party organisation and not about change in the leadership in the State.

``This meeting is in the backdrop of Congress party changing the leadership in block and district levels. AICC President has declared this year as the year of organisation and has asked us to empower district party Presidents. Surjewala is here to receive pleas from MLAs and also give guidance on party organisation. He is trying to bring discipline in the party amidst public statements made by some of the MLAs.Ourt focus is only 2028 elections,'' he said.

When asked about his staunch supporter Iqbal Hussain seeking leadership change, D K Shivakumar said that he would issue a notice to him, as no one is expected to speak about the party in public.

Earlier, while addressing the media, Surjewala spent most of his time venting ire against the Central BJP government. He also said that the State Congress government was giving good administration and denied that there was any agenda to replace Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

In reality, the Congress MLAs in the State had the agenda -- where some battled in favour of replacing Siddaramaiah with D K Shivakumar, while some others wanted Siddaramaiah to continue for the full time. They were vocal in their opinion.

Ramanagar MLA Iqbal Hussain was vocal on change in the leadership. He claimed that D K Shivakumar enjoyed the support of over 100 MLAs and everyone knew about his contribution in bringing Congress to power. It was high time that D K Shivakumar be made the Chief MInister, else the party would suffer in coming days, he added.

However, Koppal MLA Raghavendra Hitnal said that there was no question of changing Siddaramaiah and he would complete the full term as the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, Aland MLA B R Patil, who was the first to come out in public against the governing style of the government, also met Surjewala. After the meeting, B R Patil said that he still stood by what he said about the Housing Department scam and had submitted relevant documents to Surjewala. ``I have done what I had to do and it is up to the party leaders to make a decision,'' he said.

After some time, Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahamed Khan also met Surjewala and offered his explanation about the episode. He told Surjewala that the houses had not yet been distributed and there was some miscommunication.

Most of the MLAs who met Surjewala complained about the apathy of ministers towards them and how they had to depend on third persons to get grants to their constituencies. They also complained that they had not received any grants for developmental works at all. There have been a number of complaints about implementing the Guarantee schemes also, which was bringing bad name to the government.

Bengaluru Weather: Know Temperatures, Humidity, AQI And More About The Atmosphere

Worst was that Surjewala had to listen to the internal bickering in the district level party unit. Kolar politics was the toughest to handle, where the MLAs were divided between supporters of Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa and his detractors.Bangarpet MLA Narayanaswamy had a list of complaints against Malur MLA Nanje Gowda, who is eyeing to become Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) Chairman. He is relying on the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to become KMF Chairman.

However, D K Shivakumar's brother D K Suresh is all set to become KMF Chairman, after winning the elections as Bangalore Milk Union Limited (BAMUL). Nanje Gowda poured out his complaint against Narayanaswamy, Muniyappa and D K Shivakumar, While Surjewala lent his ears helplessly.