Congress strong enough to deal with any situation, says AICC

Amid reports of fresh dissident activities in the Congress in Karnataka, the party leadership Sunday asserted it was strong enough to face any situation.

Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal said even though BJP "attempted to lure" legislators at the time of confidence vote sought by chief minister H D Kumaraswamy in May last, the Congress-JDS coalition overcame it.

He was responding to questions from reporters on reports that some Congress MLAs had "suddenly disappeared" Saturday and were allegedly in touch with the BJP to pull down the Kumaraswamy government.

"Even though they (BJP) used ugly politics at the time of confidence motion, we overcame that. We won the confidence motion. That's why we are ruling the state of Karnataka. This time also we are very much confident," he said.

"If anybody is indulging in mischief, the Congress is strong enough to deal with them...," he added.

Venugopal said the cabinet expansion would take place before October 10.

Congress has been hit by internal dissent, triggered by a faction of MLAs led by minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, who is locked in a turf war with another minister D K Shivakumar.

The Jarkiholi brothers' activities have led to speculations that BJP was fishing in troubled waters and was in touch with them to dislodge the government.

The siblings are upset over Shivakumar allegedly trying to challenge their supremacy in Belagavi district through MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar.

Siddaramaiah had said there are six ministerial posts to be filled and many aspirants for the posts, leading to speculation in the media about dissidence in the party.