Power struggle within Karnataka Congress comes to the fore

The power struggle in Karnataka Congress has come to the fore with senior leaders openly contradicting each other on appointments for key posts,even as the party continues to remain in a "virtual vacuum" with the new President and CLP leader yet to be announced.

The development is also being seen as a fight between the old guards and senior leader Siddaramaiah to strengthen their grip over the state Congress, party sources said.

Siddaramaiah has said the Congress Legislature Party leader and Leader of the Opposition posts should not be "separated" and be held by one person, amid reports that the high command was mulling appointing a new CLP leader, while continuing with him as LoP.

He is also said to have pushed for creation of four KPCC Working President posts after reportedly getting to know that his loyalists will not be made the party state unit President.

However,several senior leaders, largely old guards like G Parameshwara, H K Patil and K H Muniyappa, aspirants for the key posts, have openly opposed Siddaramaiah's suggestions.

CLP leader Siddaramaiah and state Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao had quit their posts last month after the party posted a poor show, winning only two of the 15 seats in the bypolls while it had held 12 of them.

However, the resignations have not yet been accepted by the high command.

Siddaramaiah's statement on Friday opining that the post of CLP leader and LOP should be held by one person has resulted in senior leaders expressing opposing views.

Senior party legislator H K Patil,seen as an aspirant for the CLP leader post, pointed out that during the coalition government, G Parameshwara from the party was Deputy Chief Minister while Siddaramaiah was the CLP leader.

"In the centre too, while madam (Sonia Gandhi) was the Congress Parliamentary Party leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge were leaders of the party in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively (in previous Lok Sabha)."
Conceding there is confusion in Congress, former Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara,also seen as an aspirant for the CLP post, while welcoming the reported move to separate the posts, had opinied there need not be any Working President and the same responsibility can be given to senior Vice Presidents