Surjewala warns strict action against leaders, legislators, Ministers crossing party’s ‘Lakshman rekha’

AICC general secretaries urge Karnataka leaders to not cross 'Lakshman rekha' of party; tell them to focus on development, power-sharing not to be discussed in public; identify suitable candidates for 2024 LS polls. #Congress #Karnataka #LakshmanRekha #AICC #Siddaramaiah #DKShivakumar #RandeepSurjewala #KCVenugopal #MLAs #Ministers #LokSabha #Youth #Newcomers

As the public image of the Congress government in Karnataka appears to be getting dented following controversial remarks by Ministers and legislators on the tenure of the Chief Minister and the Opposition BJP levelling allegations of corruption, AICC general secretaries Randeep Singh Surjewala and K.C. Venugopal huddled together with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC president and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday and told all leaders not to cross the ‘Lakshman rekha’ of the party.

Briefing on the two-hour-long discussions on the party matters, Mr. Surjewala said “appropriate action” would be taken against leaders, MLAs, and Ministers if they make public statements on matters related to the party and the government.

Mr. Surjewala said, “The MLAs should focus on giving advice about development related to their constituencies and districts and tweaking policies that will benefit the people of the State. Ministers should focus on their departments and their respective districts. Issues such as power-sharing should not be discussed in public.” The leaders would be doing a disservice to the party if they violate the party discipline, he said.

MLAs and Ministers have been issuing public statements related to the rotation of the post of the Chief Minister after 30 months. Loyalists of Mr. Siddaramaiah have stated that the Chief Minister’s post was not vacant, and that the incumbent would continue for five years. Mr. Shivakumar’s loyalists have been contending that the KPCC chief would become the Chief Minister after 30 months.

Mr. Surjewala told the leaders, “You discuss, give suggestions and opinions to the Chief Minister, the KPCC president or me and not in public.”

Following uneasiness among the cadre and legislators over the delay in the appointment of heads to various boards and corporations, the four leaders held talks and decided to have more detailed discussions after the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh on November 17. Mr. Surjewala, who is in charge of the polls in M.P., said another four or five rounds of talks would be held on the appointments.

With the party banking on four guarantees, Mr. Surjewala told Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar to identify suitable candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Mr. Surjewala said, “Karnataka is at the centre point of the Congress party’s strategy for the parliamentary elections. We believe that the Congress will get 20-plus Lok Sabha seats in the State. We hope to completely sweep the polls and raise the number to about 25-plus seats. The process of identifying parliamentary candidates must begin.”