Surjewala issues ‘indiscipline’ warning for Cong leaders in run up to CM reports

Speculation are strife in media as reports emerge of a deadlock between the two frontrunners for the CM post- DK Shivakumar and Siddharamaiah.

The All India Congress Committe (AICC) in-charge for Karnataka, Randeep Surjewala met reporters outside of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge’s house and warned fellow Congress leaders that they should not issue statements on the selection of a Chief Minister of Karnataka, which the Congress High Command has undertaken and deliberations for which are still ongoing.

Surjewala said that any out-of-turn remarks on the leadership issue “will be treated as indiscipline and action taken accordingly.”

Surjewala further claimed that a “section of media” has fallen victim to the ‘fake news factory’ of BJP on the government formation in Karnataka. The Rajya Sabha member also hit out at BJP and asked if Congress had questioned the prime minister the same way when he took seven to 10 days in deciding on chief ministers in several states.

“We understand the frustration of BJP in being decisively rejected by the brother and sisters of Karnataka bringing an end to the #40PercentBJPSarkara,” Surjewala said in a tweet.

Rejecting the criticism of high-command culture in the grand old party, Surjewala said “no one whispered a word” when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took seven to 10 days in deciding the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Goa and several other states where BJP emerged victorious.

“But the same forces and a select news outlets have objections to the process of dialogue, discussion, consensus adopted by Sh. @kharge ji, which is in true democratic traditions,” the Congress leader said.

“I have also advised all Congress leaders to not issue statements on the issue of leadership. Any out of turn remarks made from here onwards will be treated as indiscipline and action taken accordingly,” he added.

Earlier, AICC general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter, “Just to refresh memories of PM’s drum-beaters especially. 2017 UP Vidhan Sabha election results out on March 11th. Yogi appointed CM 8 days later on March 19th. 2021 Assam Vidhan Sabha election results out on May 3rd. Himanta Biswa Sarma became CM 7 days later on May 10th.”

“There are many more such examples,” he said.

Hectic parleys were held on Wednesday to break the deadlock in deciding on the Congress’ chief ministerial pick in Karnataka with both the hopefuls Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar presenting their cases before the top brass.