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The BJP targeted Siddaramaiah, claiming he was snubbed by Rahul Gandhi during his Delhi visit. Drawing parallels with 1990, the BJP accused the Gandhis of disrespecting leaders.
A file photo of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (PTI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took a dig at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday, saying he was denied an appointment by Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, amid speculation about a change in the state’s leadership.
Siddaramaiah, who is in the national capital, on Thursday told reporters that he sought an appointment to meet Rahul Gandhi. However, he got no confirmation over the same.
In a jibe at the Chief Minister, BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya wrote on X, “Humiliation in Delhi for Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah! He travelled all the way to the capital, only to be denied an appointment by Rahul Gandhi—and has now returned without even a meeting.”
Weaponising his post with a reference to Veerendra Patil, who died nearly 30 years ago, and training guns at the Gandhis, Malviya wrote, “This isn’t the first time a Gandhi has insulted a senior leader from Karnataka.”
“History remembers how Rajiv Gandhi unceremoniously sacked an ailing Veerendra Patil, triggering the Congress’s downfall in the state,” he mentioned.
“Now, a weakened Siddaramaiah is forced to hide behind the very man plotting against him—DK Shivakumar, who is eagerly waiting to take his chair. The Congress, and the Gandhis in particular, have always treated Kannadigas with disdain. This is just the latest example,” Malviya wrote.
WHAT IS THE REFERENCE TO VEERENDRA PATIL?
Communal riots erupted in Karnataka in October 1990 as the BJP took out a rath yatra to mobilise support for the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Veerendra Patil, who was then the Chief Minister of the state, had suffered a stroke a few days earlier and was bedridden.
VP Singh served as the Prime Minister of India at that time.
CK Jaffer Sharief, who was a member of the Lok Sabha, briefed Rajiv Gandhi about Patil’s health and advised him to say that the state, during the time of riots, could not be left to someone who was indisposed.
Later, Rajiv Gandhi announced a leadership change in the state, an incident which is being looked upon as the Congress high command’s ruthless behaviour, even towards political leaders and sitting chief ministers.
LEADERSHIP CHANGE BUZZ IN KARNATAKA
On Thursday, Siddaramaiah met Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge along with other senior party leaders.
However, the Chief Minister has time and again dismissed speculation about a change in the state’s leadership, asserting that there has been no discussion with the Congress high command about the change.
“How many times do I tell you, it (speculations around Karnataka Chief Minister post) was not discussed at all? This issue was not discussed at all with the high command,” Siddaramaiah said on Friday.
Siddaramaiah claimed that he would complete his five-year tenure as Chief Minister and brushed aside talk of him paving the way for his Deputy DK Shivakumar to take over later this year.
Also talking to reporters, DK Shivakumar on Friday said, “It is not good to speak again and again.”
“I do not want to comment on Siddaramaiah’s statement on the Chief Minister issue; he has the right to comment,” he added.
There has been speculation within political circles, especially within the ruling Congress, for some time now about the Chief Minister change later this year, citing power-sharing agreement involving Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
Earlier, Karnataka Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala held one-to-one meetings with Congress MLAs, which sparked speculation over the party handing the leadership to Shivakumar.
However, Siddaramaiah has clarified to reporters that Surjewala clearly stated that the purpose of meeting the MLAs in the state is not the issue of change of chief ministers.
ALSO READ | ‘No Question Of Changing Schemes’: Siddaramaiah After MLA’s ‘Development Or Guarantees’ Remark
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
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