Dissensions within the Congress camp have intensified in the wake of the allocation of portfolios in the new cabinet led by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
Soon after senior leader Ramalinga Reddy shocked the party by resigning from his ministerial post, another senior leader, food and civil supplies minister KH Muniyappa, has openly expressed his displeasure with the high command. According to him, seniority has not been given any value in the portfolio allocation.
Seniority ignored: KH Muniyappa
Speaking to the media after inaugurating the Mango Mela in Devanahalli, Bengaluru Rural District, minister KH Muniyappa expressed deep disappointment with the new government's move.
"I am a senior politician who has already been elected as an MP and minister 8 times. However, our seniority has been completely ignored while allocating portfolios. The responsibility lies with the leaders to treat everyone equally in the party. AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge should treat all leaders the same," Muniyappa said.
Further, he said this is not a good situation for the future of the party. If the allocation of departments is not done properly, this will have a direct impact on the next assembly elections in 2028, he pointed out.
Demand for portfolio change
Muniyappa, who had handled the food department in the previous government, is keen on the agriculture or social welfare department, where he said he can have direct contact with the people and have free access to serve them.
"I recently went to Delhi and met high command leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi and discussed this issue at length. I have convinced them about the way seniors are treated. I am confident that they will grant my request and change my portfolio soon," Muniyappa expressed optimism.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that Byrathi Suresh, who has been given the transport portfolio, has also expressed his displeasure and told close friends that he wants to be assigned another portfolio.
Fresh trouble for Congress
Miffed at being denied the portfolio, Reddy said he could not work against his "conscience". Addressing a press meet on Friday (June 5) morning, the eight-time Bengaluru MLA said he had been promised the portfolio twice. Both Siddaramaiah (in 2023) and Shivakumar (2023 and 2026) had voluntarily offered it, but it was changed in the official list on both occasions, Reddy claimed.
Karnataka Chief Minister Shivakumar faces first crisis in office with Reddy’s exit, and that on a day when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is in Bengaluru for AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge's Rajya Sabha nomination filing.
However, with KH Muniyappa's open rebellion, more trouble brews for DK Shivakumar and the Congress high command.
(This article was originally published in The Federal Karnataka.)
