‘Useless fellows’: Kharge slams Congress workers amid DK Shivakumar sloganeering
Kharge rebuked party workers for chanting DK Shivakumar's name during a Karnataka event and warned of disciplinary action, stressing party unity ahead of 2028 polls
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge lost his temper during the swearing-in ceremony of a senior Karnataka Congress leader and snapped at party workers when they interrupted his speech, chanting “DK, DK’ in support of Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. Kharge not only called the party workers “useless fellows” but reminded them that the event was a party programme and was not meant for an individual leader.
Kharge loses cool
"Keep quiet! Sit down. It's as if the whole country has come into your hands. Useless fellows!" said Kharge on Sunday (June 21), as quoted by NDTV. The report further stated that a video of the incident also showed the Karnataka Chief Minister trying to control the crowd as he stood up and gestured to them to sit down.
Expressing his annoyance over the disruption, Kharge asked that if one person keeps chanting one name and another person shouts someone else’s name then whether the rest has come to sweep the place.
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"This is a Congress party meeting. It is not a meeting meant for any one individual. It is a function where everyone has come together to strengthen and unite the party. If one person keeps shouting one name and another person shouts another, then have the rest of the people come here just to sweep up the garbage?" the Congress president thundered.
Warning of disciplinary action
Warning the concerned Congress workers of disciplinary action, Kharge reminded them that there were CCTV coverage at the venue adding that they would be identified.
"Remember... discipline is always necessary for the party. Whoever is shouting here, there will be footage. I will take disciplinary action after reviewing the footage," he said.
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The Congress is hoping to move past a prolonged phase of internal friction in Karnataka as it begins preparations for the 2028 Assembly election. The leadership transition that saw Shivakumar replace Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister in June came after sustained lobbying by Shivakumar's supporters and months of speculation over a power-sharing arrangement.
Background to transition
Tensions between the two senior leaders had surfaced soon after the Congress returned to power in the 2023 Assembly polls. While both were contenders for the top post, the party eventually picked Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister. Shivakumar was accommodated as Deputy Chief Minister, with party leaders reportedly assuring him of a future opportunity.
The issue resurfaced after the Siddaramaiah government completed two-and-a-half years in office, with the Shivakumar camp intensifying its push for a leadership change. Faced with growing pressure and keen to avoid a prolonged dispute, the Congress High Command approved the transition. Siddaramaiah stepped down on May 28, paving the way for Shivakumar to take oath as Chief Minister a week later.