Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured the Assembly on Wednesday of the Congress Party’s continued grip on power, despite vigorous opposition from the BJP.
Responding to opposition members who criticized the government for appointing Congress workers to key roles in guarantee committees, Siddaramaiah dismissed allegations of disrespecting elected officials, asserting that the Congress will emerge victorious in future elections, securing his position as Chief Minister for another five-year term.
The controversy arose when BJP members accused the Congress government of setting a "wrong precedent" by allowing party workers to influence district administration, thereby undermining the authority of MLAs and MLCs.
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka contended that this practice could be detrimental for subsequent administrations, a claim swiftly rejected by Siddaramaiah.
The Chief Minister emphasized Congress’s recent electoral successes in bypolls in Channapatna, Shiggaon, and Sandur, reminding the opposition of their defeats. He confidently predicted a similar outcome in upcoming elections.
This assurance comes amid reports of an internal power tussle between Siddaramaiah and his deputy, D K Shivakumar.
The BJP criticized the appointment of Congress members as chairpersons and members of the guarantees implementation committees. These committees are responsible for overseeing five key government schemes: 'Gruha Jyothi', 'Gruha Lakshmi', 'Anna Bhagya', 'Yuva Nidhi', and 'Shakti', which provide benefits ranging from free electricity to unemployment allowances.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has been approached by BJP members, requesting the dissolution of these district and taluk-level committees, arguing their unconstitutional nature.
In response, Siddaramaiah assured that legislators' rights would not be compromised and highlighted the historical precedent of involving party workers in governance roles, a practice previously followed during BJP's tenure in power.
Speaker U T Khader advised BJP legislators to engage directly with Siddaramaiah following the session to resolve practical issues arising from the committee appointments. The Chief Minister promised to address genuine concerns, while affirming the necessity of party worker appointments for committee leadership.
Vocal exchanges ensued as the Assembly debated the balance between granting Congress workers significant administrative influence and upholding the privileges of elected representatives. The session concluded with Siddaramaiah's commitment to convene a post-session meeting to discuss and potentially rectify legitimate grievances.
