Siddaramaiah camp to take 27 MLAs abroad 'to counter DKS push for CLP meeting'

BENGALURU: Amid escalating power-sharing tensions between CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar, a group of Congress legislators seen as close to the CM is planning a foreign tour, triggering fresh political speculation.

Around 27 Congress MLAs and MLCs will leave for Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday and are expected to return on March 1, said party insiders. Last week, 17 legislators had sought a no-objection certificate from the legislative assembly secretariat for a family trip to the two countries, with the number now rising to 27.

Even as the legislators insist that the trip is a break from routine work, party insiders say the trip has clear political undertones. It is being viewed as a move to blunt DK Shivakumar’s push to convene a Congress Legislature Party meeting later this month to press for a power transition.

After his Delhi visit last week, DCM is said to have stepped up pressure on party leadership to honour the unwritten power-sharing pact under which Siddaramaiah is expected to hand over the CM post to him.




Keen to see the transition completed before the budget session begins on March 6, he has been reaching out to MLAs to mobilise support and is said to be planning a CLP meeting to decide on leadership.

The CM camp is said to have devised a counter-strategy by sending select MLAs on the foreign tour, with their return scheduled for March 3. “It is unfortunate that the developments being witnessed in the party is giving the impression that the Congress is riddled with camp politics with seniors hankering for power. This is not in the interest of the party, especially when we are to face a series of elections including assembly by polls and local bodies election leading up to the 2028 state elections,” KPCC vice-president BL Shankar said.

Earlier reports suggested that the foreign trips were to be sponsored by the animal husbandry department under minister K Venkatesh, with urban development minister Byrathi Suresh sponsoring another batch. Both are Siddaramaiah loyalists.

Taking note of the development, the high command warned legislators against the trip. AICC general secretary Randeep Surjewala reportedly called MLAs, asking them to defer their plans. While some decided to comply, others have gone ahead. “I decided to stay back owing to personal commitments,” Venkatesh said. “There is nothing wrong with MLAs going on tour. It is a personal trip and has nothing to do with power transition.”

Not to be outmanoeuvred, the DCM camp is planning a counter-move if the CM post is not handed over to Shivakumar by Feb-end. His camp, too, may take MLAs on a foreign tour. “The high command has to put an end to this uncertainty at the earliest. It reflects its failure to reign in MLAs and provoking the DCM camp to take the tussle to next level,” a senior MLA said.

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