Kamal Ghorui
BENGALURU: A foreign tour by a bloc of Congress legislators aligned with CM Siddaramaiah has injected volatility into Karnataka politics, sharpening a power struggle with deputy CM DK Shivakumar over a long-speculated transition.About 27 Congress MLAs and MLCs are set to leave for Australia and NZ Tuesday, party insiders said. Legislators insist the travel is routine, but within the party it is seen as a tactical move to undercut Shivakumar’s push for a Congress legislature party meeting to press for a change at the top.Congress returned to office in 2023 amid talk of an unwritten power-sharing deal under which DKS would succeed Siddaramaiah. Anticipating a leadership push before budget session March 6, Siddaramaiah camp is said to have encouraged select legislators to travel. The high command moved to rein in damage, with Randeep Surjewala calling MLAs to defer plans. Some complied, but others went ahead, signalling camp loyalties.
