Is portfolio distribution on the verge of breaking down again in the new government of DK Shivakumar? Is Minister Krishna Gowda’s reaching Delhi and demanding BDA-BMRDA control an internal rebellion? Is Rizwan Arshad’s attempt to enter the cabinet increasing new tensions in Congress? Is the Reddy controversy not over, but has a new chapter of Karnataka power crisis begun?
DK Shivakumar Government Issues: The ongoing power tussle in the newly elected Congress government of Karnataka is not showing any sign of stopping. Just a few days after Chief Minister DK Shivakumar assumed office, the fire of discontent over portfolio distribution in the cabinet has once again flared up. Just last week, the drama of senior leader Ramalinga Reddy’s resignation was barely quelled, but now another high-profile minister has directly sounded the alarm. Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has flatly refused to handle the “incomplete” portfolio given to him and has headed straight to the country’s capital Delhi with a bundle of complaints. This new political development has given sleepless nights to the Congress high command from Karnataka to Delhi.
‘I don’t want a half-baked department’ – Krishna Byre Gowda’s sharp attack
At the center of this new crisis is the old form of the Bengaluru Development Ministry (Bengaluru Development Portfolio). According to sources, Minister Krishna Byre Gowda is putting immense pressure on the party leadership to bring both the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) and the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) back under his department. In fact, without these two mega-agencies, the Bengaluru Development Ministry remains just like a rubber stamp, because they have the real control over the planning, crores of funds and development of the city and its surrounding areas. Gowda believes that there is no point in handling this department without power. This is the reason why he has not yet formally assumed charge and is in a mood for a one-on-one fight with the high command.
Parallel maneuver in Delhi Darbar: Will the hopes of ministers come to a screeching halt?
The suspense is not limited only to Krishna Byre Gowda’s arrival in Delhi. Another prominent Karnataka Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad has also suddenly reached the national capital. There is a strong discussion in the political circles that Rizwan Arshad is camping in Delhi and trying his best to get a place in the state cabinet. These parallel efforts of ministers and MLAs have made it completely clear that despite the formation of the government and the announcement of departments, the ambitions of many veterans have remained unfulfilled. On one hand, DK Shivkumar is trying to show his government as stable and united, while on the other hand, this mass exodus of MLAs towards Delhi is exposing his claims.
That midnight agreement and the incomplete truth of the Reddy dispute
This whole story becomes more complicated when we look at its history. Just less than a week ago, senior Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy had resigned from the ‘Major and Medium Irrigation’ department alleging that the promise made to him had been broken. Reddy claimed that before cabinet formation, he was promised the Bengaluru Development Department, which was later handed over to Krishna Byre Gowda. However, Shivakumar held a secret and lengthy meeting with Reddy at midnight, after which Reddy withdrew his resignation. Shivakumar had told the media that everything has been resolved, calling it a “family matter”. But who knew that the same department which had pacified Reddy’s anger would now become a new cause of dissatisfaction for Gowda.
‘Grand test’ in front of Shivakumar: Will the credibility of Karnataka government be saved?
When DK Shivakumar took charge of Karnataka, he had promised the people and the high command to give a very strong, united and stable government. But the manner in which sparks of rebellion are rising one after the other in the initial days of government formation has raised serious questions on the Chief Minister’s crisis management ability. Shivkumar now seems to be out of his control to strike a balance between ministers’ hunger for more powers and MLAs’ competition to join the cabinet. In such a situation, it will be very interesting and full of suspense to see whether the Congress high command in Delhi bows down to the conditions of Krishna Byre Gowda or there will be a new major reshuffle in power in Karnataka.