High-Drama Unfolds at Congress Event in Bengaluru
Tensions Rise During Congress 'Sankalp Samavesha'
A dramatic scene unfolded at the Congress 'Sankalp Samavesha' event held in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The party's national president, Mallikarjun Kharge, became visibly upset when a faction of party workers began chanting 'DK-DK' in support of Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, disrupting the proceedings. Kharge did not hold back, labeling the chanting workers as 'useless people' from the stage.
"Are the rest of you here just to sweep the floor?" — Kharge
Expressing his frustration, Kharge reminded the attendees that the event was meant for the Congress party, not to promote any individual. He firmly stated:
"Will shouting here have any impact on the entire country? This is not an individual's event; it is a party event. You are useless people! We are here for the party that unites us all."
Kharge also questioned the silence of other party members present, asking, "If one person speaks and another shouts, what are the rest of you doing here? Are you here just to sweep the floor?"
58 Years of Experience and a Warning on Discipline
Reflecting on his extensive political career, Kharge advised leaders to stay within their limits. He remarked, "I have 58 years of political experience. Many leaders have come here, but their contributions to the party are minimal, even though the party has given them a lot."
He issued a stern warning against indiscipline, stating that video footage of the event would be reviewed to identify disruptive workers, who would face strict disciplinary action.
BJP's Response: "Three Holding Companies and a Subsidiary in Congress"
The main opposition party, the BJP, quickly seized the opportunity to mock the incident. BJP leader Gaurav Vallabh attributed the disruption to internal power struggles within Congress.
Gaurav Vallabh's Corporate Analogy:
He humorously analyzed Congress's leadership structure in corporate terms:
Congress M (Mommy): First holding company (Sonia Gandhi)
Congress P (Priyanka): Second holding company (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra)
Congress R (Rahul): Third holding company (Rahul Gandhi)
Congress K (Kharge): A subsidiary of these three major holding companies.
Vallabh further criticized, saying, "Can you imagine a political party president being upset over slogans being raised for his own chief minister (or major leader)? This is happening because Kharge himself wanted to be the Chief Minister of Karnataka."
This incident in Bengaluru has once again highlighted the discord within the Karnataka Congress. While Mallikarjun Kharge calls for discipline, the opposition has found another opportunity to attack the ongoing factionalism within the party.