In a rare candid moment on The News Minute’s podcast South Central, editor-in-chief Dhanya Rajendran pointed out the irony in Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s recent comment, but then quickly pulled back, indicating just how cautious liberal commentators still are when it comes to critiquing their own side.
The conversation centred around the ongoing leadership debate in Karnataka between Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. As speculation grows over whether Siddaramaiah will make way for Shivakumar mid-term, as per the power-sharing agreement, Kharge recently weighed in, stating that “the high command will decide” the matter.
She said, “Ever since he was sworn in as a chief minister of Karnataka on the 20th of May 2023, it’s like the clock is ticking on Siddaramaiah’s head as to when he has to step down. Initially everybody knew that it was a 2.5-year time period
which he would be given as a chief minister, and the next 2.5 years would be DK Shivakumar most probably or that’s a theory which was widely accepted. Now that the 2.5-year time period is coming to an end, the discussion has gathered steam yet again, as to whether Siddaramaiah will step down and DK Shivakumar will come in. Now the political dialogues aside, yesterday we saw Siddaramaiah saying that he will continue to be the chief minister for all five terms. It’s not like he can come and say no no I will quit after two and a half or three years. So, he’s maintaining that. DK Shivakumar, on the other side, is saying that, oh I will listen to the high command, I have no other option but if Siddaramaiah is a chief minister. I will be his deputy.” Then she was reminded of the Kharge comment.
It was this comment that Dhanya took head-on. “I think the funniest comment was from Mallikarjun Kharge who said that the high command will decide,” she said on the podcast. “I think Mallikarjun Kharge for a minute forgot that he is the high command, right?” Even fellow host Pooja Prasanna quipped, “Old habits die hard.”
It was a pointed observation, an honest and bold swipe at the Congress party’s opaque power structure, which often defers decisions to an abstract, unnamed authority even when the formal power lies with the party president.
But almost as soon as the words left her mouth, the moment was neutralized.
Professor Chandan Gowda, a fellow panelist and known liberal commentator, interrupted to soften the blow. He suggested that Kharge may have meant the decision would be made in consultation with MLAs, turning it into an internal democratic process, rather than a display of top-down control. He said, “Dhanya, what Kharge might have meant, might have meant, is the high command will decide in consultation with the MLAs, which then would make it an in-house situation, not that an external agent is deciding, but it’s an inside decision. But you are right to point out, in his eyes, the high command does not mean the AICC president. I mean it means there’s some other power center that is, yeah, you’re absolutely right, I mean there is that reading. But I was trying to wonder if he may have meant, we’ll all decide.”
Sensing the pushback, Dhanya immediately clarified, “Okay anyway, it was just a half joke. So, if Mallikarjun Kharge is listening, he can forgive us.”
What could have been a moment of serious reflection on Congress’s internal contradictions turned instead into a carefully navigated exchange, illustrating just how narrow the space is for criticism of top Congress leadership within liberal media circles. The instinct to self-correct, even when making a light-hearted point, reflects an underlying deference toward figures like Kharge and the broader Congress establishment.
Dhanya’s remark may have started as an honest critique, but the apology that followed said just as much. Even among those who regularly challenge political power, calling out the “high command” remains a step too far, unless it’s followed by a smile and a quick disclaimer.
So much for “honest”, “neutral”, “independent” journalism.
Enjoy!
Dhanya Rajendran dared to talk about the irony of Kharge saying “high command” will decide
Immediately…another liberal interrupted and shut her up
Dhanya had to clarify she was only joking pic.twitter.com/axbgytFh06
– Abhishek (@AbhishBanerj)