Bengaluru, Aug 2026 : Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday sought to downplay growing discontent within the ruling Congress following the recent Cabinet expansion, insisting that there was no rebellion in the party and that the leadership remained united. Shivakumar made the remarks after meeting senior Congress MLA M.
Krishnappa and his son, Govindarajanagar MLA Priya Krishna, at their residence in Bengaluru’s Vijayanagar area. The meeting was held in the presence of AICC Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala amid reports of disappointment over Krishnappa being denied a ministerial berth. “There is no dissident in the party. It was a healthy discussion.
We have to take care of our leaders; we have to share responsibilities and work out a strategy. There is no question of any dissident. Everything is intact; there is no problem,” Shivakumar told reporters after the meeting.
The Chief Minister described leaders who had been left out of the expanded Cabinet as “eligible, senior and loyal” members of the Congress. He said the purpose of the discussions was to explain the circumstances surrounding the Cabinet exercise and address concerns among senior legislators. Shivakumar also hit back at Karnataka BJP president B.Y.
Vijayendra, who had criticised the Congress over the reported internal differences. The Chief Minister, however, said he had no intention of responding to Vijayendra's allegations. “I don’t want to answer anything to Vijayendra. Let him first repair himself.
Let him keep his house in order. His MLC election has shown him the door,” Shivakumar said, referring to the recent electoral setback faced by the BJP leader. Following the meeting, M.
Krishnappa said the Congress leadership had acknowledged that an error had occurred during the Cabinet formation and assured him that the issue would be corrected. “The Chief Minister and Surjewala came and told me that some mistake happened and they will set it right. It is left to them,” Krishnappa said. Priya Krishna also termed the meeting positive, saying that the discussion primarily focused on his father’s candidature for a ministerial position.
According to him, the party leadership had assured them that the matter would be addressed at the earliest. “It was about my father’s candidature for the ministry. They have said there has been a mistake and that they will rectify it as soon as possible. That is left to the party,” Priya Krishna said.
He further stressed that both he and his father remained committed to the Congress and would not resort to pressure tactics or public confrontation to secure a ministerial position. “We are in the party. We are loyal workers. We are not deserters.
We don’t resign, we don’t threaten, and we don’t blackmail. We are fighters, and we will fight it out within the party,” he said. The Congress leadership has intensified efforts to engage with senior legislators who were overlooked during the Cabinet expansion.
The meetings are widely viewed as an attempt to contain dissatisfaction and prevent individual grievances from developing into a broader challenge to the state leadership. With the next phase of governance and organisational responsibilities ahead, the Congress leadership is seeking to reassure disgruntled leaders while maintaining unity within the ruling party. Shivakumar’s repeated assertion that there is no dissidence reflects the leadership’s effort to project stability and prevent the Opposition from gaining political mileage from the reported discontent.
Team Maverick
