Bengaluru, Dec 27: DK Shivakumar, seen as a frontrunner in the race to lead the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), on Thursday criticised attempts by some party colleagues to lobby for the position, terming them as blackmail.
“The Congress cannot be blackmailed into doing something. It is not based on individuals and has its own ideology. You cannot expect the party to yield to any individuals,” said the Vokkaliga strongman and former water resources minister.
Earlier this month, Siddaramaiah and Dinesh Gundu Rao quit as Congress Legislature Party leader and KPCC president, respectively, after the party’s dismal show in the recent byelections. The party leadership is yet to take a call on their resignations, but there is already a crowded field of aspirants, especially for the post of the state unit chief.
Shivakumar said he knew the party well after three decades of association and it could sideline any functionary, irrespective of how strong they were, at a moment’s notice.
“Congress has the ability to remove the topi [cap] atop one person and put it on another person within moments. No matter who it is, be it me or anyone, such tactics [lobbying] will not work with the party,” he said.
There are no indications from the Congress camp yet on whether Siddaramaiah and Rao’s resignations would be accepted or they would be asked to continue in the posts, but that has not prevented their colleagues from undertaking hectic lobbying.
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