Notice to Mithun Rai as DK supporters shout slogans before KC Venugopal’s visit
Bengaluru: After weeks of tense political sparring over the chief minister’s chair, the Congress high command has now issued a showcause notice to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary and close aide of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Mithun Rai, for violating party discipline during AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal’s visit to Mangaluru.
The notice was issued by AICC secretary Roji John after a group of Congress workers led by Mithun Rai raised loud slogans in favour of D.K. Shivakumar, demanding that he be made the next chief minister, even as senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal arrived at the Mangaluru International Airport.
The incident, which came days after a much-publicised breakfast meeting between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, has triggered fresh embarrassment for the party at a time when the high command has been attempting to restore calm within the Karnataka unit.
Sloganeering sparks fresh tension:
K.C. Venugopal had travelled from Kerala to attend the centenary celebrations of the historic dialogue between Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi, a programme organised in Mangaluru.
As he stepped out of the airport, a group of Congress leaders and workers — including Mithun Rai — broke into chants of “DK, DK” and raised demands that Shivakumar should be elevated to the chief minister’s post.
The public display of factional allegiance, especially when the high command has repeatedly instructed leaders to refrain from such activities, was viewed seriously by the central leadership.
According to party sources, the high command interpreted the slogans as a direct attempt to reignite tensions between supporters of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at a time when leadership disputes were beginning to cool down.
High command displeased:
The incident reportedly angered the AICC, prompting the immediate issuance of a showcause notice to Mithun Rai asking him to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him. Sources said the high command was upset that factional chants were raised directly in front of K.C. Venugopal, the AICC in-charge for organisational affairs, giving the impression of internal disunity.
This comes at a time when the party has been trying to project stability in Karnataka, especially after weeks of speculation over leadership change following demands from some ministers and MLAs urging the high command to make Shivakumar the chief minister.
DK Shivakumar defends supporters:
Reacting to the incident, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar downplayed the slogan shouting, stating that such displays of support are common in politics. “Supporters may have raised slogans. In politics, you will hear all kinds of cheers and criticism.
People have been shouting ‘DK DK’ slogans for the last 10 years. Some shout for Modi, some for DK, some for Rahul, and some for Siddaramaiah. What is wrong in that?” he said. His response appears aimed at diffusing the controversy, even as the high command proceeds with internal disciplinary procedures.
Background: leadership battle simmered since November:
The power tussle in Karnataka intensified from November 20, with factions within the party pushing for a change in leadership. A section of MLAs and ministers backing Shivakumar had even travelled to Delhi to press their case before the high command. Multiple groups made the trip, and the issue dominated political discussions for several days.
Amid the rising tensions, the Congress high command arranged a breakfast meeting between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, signalling a temporary truce and an attempt to silence speculation.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s recent visit to Dakshina Kannada — his first since the leadership crisis erupted — coincided with Venugopal’s visit, making the slogan-shouting episode more sensitive for the party.
