Congress President Kharge Rebukes DK Shivakumar Supporters

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said he rebuked supporters of Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar during a party event in Bengaluru [1, 2].

The incident highlights internal friction within the party as leadership attempts to balance individual popularity with collective party discipline. The clash occurred during a Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee swearing-in event, where the focus was intended to be on the organization rather than specific leaders [1, 2].

Supporters of DK Shivakumar repeatedly chanted slogans for the minister throughout the proceedings. Kharge said the crowd should stop the disruptions, reminding them that the gathering was for the party and not for any single individual [1, 2].

During the confrontation, Kharge called the chanting supporters "useless fellows" and said they should remain silent [1, 2]. The party president's reaction was a direct response to the persistent noise that interrupted the official program [1, 2].

Kharge said the event served a broader purpose for the party's structure in Karnataka. He said the attendees must respect the decorum of the swearing-in ceremony, a move seen as an effort to assert authority over factional displays of loyalty [1, 2].

While DK Shivakumar remains a powerful figure in the state, the public nature of the rebuke suggests a desire from the national leadership to curb personality cults during official functions [1, 2].