Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 30: The Congress has realized that the anger that has been kindled within the BJP against the chief minster (CM) may soon develop into a major problem in that party soon. However, it has decided not to get involved with this activity in any way and to keep distance from both the BJP factions for the present.

The Congress expects the revolt to get to the level of major dissidence like the one that had arisen against Yediyurappa's leadership in 2008. The opposition parties have estimated that the differences which have cropped now will develop into a deep crevice between the two sides in about six months’ time and that the government will collapse on its own. At the same time, the Congress feels that it is not worth the effort to fuel the differences, but instead, it wants to strengthen the organizational base of the party to brighten the party's chances, sources in the Congress said.

D K Shivakumar

The mood is buoyant in the Congress with D K Shivakumar at the state's helm. After D K Shivakumar and three working presidents officially take over charge on June 7, the party will roll out a scheme to strengthen its base in this state, it is learnt.

Water resources minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, said that he has discussed the issue with his friend, Umesh Katti, on Thursday. He said he does not know what kind of dissent Katti has, but assured that discussing issues does not tantamount to dissidence. He said he will make efforts to see that the BJP not only completes this term, but gets elected again for the next one.

Congress state working president Ishwar Khandre, said that none of the Congress legislators will cross over to the BJP and reasoned that MLAs from Kalyana Karnataka area are revolting as the government has done injustice to that area. Addressing press conferences at the party offices at Yadagiri and Raichur towns on Friday, he said that dissidence is blazing in the BJP and that the Congress will not make efforts to topple the BJP government. He said if the government falls on its own, the party leadership will take suitable decisions.

Deputy chief minister Dr Ashwath Narayan, felt that Congress is daydreaming about the fall of the BJP government. Minister K S Eshwarappa, said that there is no need to attach any importance to claims of Umesh Katti as he is not even a legislator. Rajya Sabha member Dr Prabhakar Kore, said that the government is on solid ground. Political secretary of the chief minister M P Renukacharya, advised detractors of the CM to shelve all their activities now as tackling of coronavirus has been topmost issue now. JD(S) MLA H D Revanna, said that no BJP MLAs have contacted him on the issue as reported in some quarters, and that he is not interested in the post of the deputy chief minister. Minster Basavaraj Bommai, said that legislators coming together for lunch cannot be dubbed as dissidence.