Now Reading: Congress rushes to pacify overlooked Karnataka MLAs
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Congress rushes to pacify overlooked Karnataka MLAs
The Karnataka Congress is in a firefighting mode after senior MLAs angrily rejected offers of party posts or board chairmanships in lieu of cabinet berths. M Krishnappa, the billionare five-time MLA from…
The Story in Brief
The Karnataka Congress is in a firefighting mode after senior MLAs angrily rejected offers of party posts or board chairmanships in lieu of cabinet berths. M Krishnappa, the billionare five-time MLA from Vijayanagar, told the party he will settle for "nothing less than" a cabinet position. State Congress chief BK Hariprasad met Krishnappa on Friday after earlier talks with Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala failed. The party has now promised Krishnappa an audience with Rahul Gandhi.
Former minister HK Patil, who was also overlooked, was assured by Surjewala that the party would 'compensate' him, but aides say he will not accept a lesser role. The unrest follows the cabinet expansion that saw nine new ministers sworn in, leaving several veterans out. Party brass is worried the discontent could hurt organisational strength ahead of the 2028 assembly elections. Some disgruntled seniors have framed the issue as an 'insider-versus-outsider battle'.
The Indian Opinion
The Congress high command's claim that every disgruntled veteran is an 'asset' rings hollow when the only option being offered is a board or corporation chairman post. M Krishnappa, with declared assets of Rs 296 crore and a son whose election affidavit lists Rs 1,156.83 crore, is not a man easily bought off with a dignity post. The real test is whether Rahul Gandhi's promised phone call can do what a cabinet berth cannot. And for HK Patil, the question is simple: will any 'compensation' short of a ministry hold, or will he walk?
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com, deccanherald.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
