The Congress high command is said to be disappointed with the manner in which the Siddaramaiah-led government in Karnataka handled the political storm that erupted in the Legislative Assembly, following Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna’s allegation that vested interests had honey-trapped 48 people, including legislators, central leaders, and judges.
Sources in the Congress told The Hindu that the party’s central leaders spoke to Mr. Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC chief D.K. Shivakumar and “took both leaders to task” for allowing the issue to be raised in the House in the first instance.
‘How did CM not know?’
The party source said the central leaders believed that Mr. Rajanna, who is a loyalist of the Chief Minister, “orchestrated” the matter. “How can the Minister speak on such a sensitive issue in the House without the permission of the Chief Minister?” asked the source.
As Parliament session is on, Congress MPs from Karnataka huddled at the Parliament lounge and discussed the seriousness of the matter, which has embarrassed the party both at the State and national-level, the source said. “We are discussing the way forward in terms of legal action,” a Congress MP said. Mr. Siddaramaiah has already announced that a high-level probe will be conducted, but without details about the nature of the probe.
The party MP argued that Karnataka has been hitting national headlines for the wrong reasons, denting the image of the Karnataka model of development being promoted through implementation of guarantee schemes. The MP argued that “a bold statement from the Chief Minister” on the honey-trap case could settle the matter soon.
The central leaders are believed to be upset over not resolving the matter in party-level meetings. The Minister himself provided fodder to the Opposition BJP for attacking the ruling dispensation, said party sources. Sources in the party claimed that the issue was, in fact, discussed at a meeting with the Chief Minister a few days ago. A few other Ministers, including Mr. Rajanna, attended the meeting.
Senior BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who raised the issue of honey-trap in the Assembly, also claimed that he had information about two Ministers being involved in the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case that hit headlines recently.
Divided loyalties
It is a well-known fact that the Congress in Karnataka is divided between legislators loyal to Mr. Siddaramaiah and those of Mr. Shivakumar, contributing to the creation of a negative image of the government. At a function in Kalaburagi recently, AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge openly told Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar to work in tandem in the interest of the State.
To evolve consensus among leaders/Ministers in the party, it is said that the central leaders are mulling over revamping the political affairs committee headed by AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala.
Published – March 22, 2025 08:07 pm IST
