Congress MLAs foreign tour plan sharpens Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar faultlines

Bengaluru: A proposed overseas tour by a group of Congress MLAs has deepened internal divisions in the party, with camps led by chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar sparring over the issue amid an ongoing tussle over the CM post.Former minister and Chamarajanagar MLA C Puttaranga Shetty revealed some 25-35 MLAs and family members are planning a trip to Australia and New Zealand between Feb 16 and March 3. The animal husbandry department is said to be underwriting the trip. Shetty said 13 MLAs, including animal husbandry and sericulture minister K Venkatesh, had sought no-objection certificates (NOC) from the secretary of the legislative assembly secretary to obtain visas.
"It is a routine procedure. We have issued NOCs to those who applied," MK Vishalakshi, assembly secretary, said.The proposed trip has led to speculation that Shivakumar is stepping up pressure on the party high command to honour a reported pact that he would take over as CM halfway through the govt's five-year term. Some say he is planning to take a large group of MLAs abroad to demonstrate his clout. However, those seen to be in CM's camp say MLAs aligned with Siddaramaiah are also part of the group.Meanwhile, Shivakumar's supporters say central party brass refused permission for the tour and that AICC general secretary Randeep Surjewala had even warned against it.DK Suresh, Shivakumar's brother and former MP, rejected suggestions that the deputy CM was involved. "Who is going? Why unnecessarily blame Shivakumar for this? I can only clarify that Shivakumar has nothing to do with it," he said.Meanwhile, critics allege that the trip could amount to a junket funded by taxpayers' money. Siddaramaiah also sought to play down the tour, saying: "If MLAs and MLCs plan to go on a foreign trip at their own expense, can we say no?" However, asked if he was aware of the tour, he said, "No, I'm not aware of it."AS Ponnanna, MLA and Siddaramaiah's legal adviser also sought to downplay the row, saying the trip was a "personal affair". "MLAs are free to go on a trip with their families, and it is their personal affair. It is not proper to drag the CM into it," he said.To a query on the state budget, Siddaramaiah said, "I will announce the presentation date after Shivaratri (Feb 15)." He is currently holding a series of pre-budget meetings with departments.Speculation about a possible change of CM began after the govt crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on Nov 20 last year. It has intensified since, with reports suggesting it could take place after Siddaramaiah presents his record 17th budget in the first week of March.