The national leadership of the Indian National Congress has intervened in an internal dispute that played out publicly in Karnataka's coastal region. The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has issued a formal show-cause notice to a senior party official following an incident of rival sloganeering by party workers.
Airport Slogans Spark Internal Dispute
The controversy erupted on December 3 at the Mangaluru International Airport. The scene was the arrival of AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal, who was visiting the coastal city to attend the centenary celebration of the historic dialogue between Mahatma Gandhi and Sri Narayana Guru.
As Venugopal arrived, two factions within the local Congress unit began raising competing slogans. Supporters of KPCC General Secretary Mithun Rai raised slogans in favour of Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar. In response, a group led by Congress MLC Ivan D'Souza countered with slogans backing the state's Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah.
AICC Steps In With Disciplinary Action
Taking a serious view of the public display of factionalism, the party's high command has taken disciplinary action. The AICC has served a show-cause notice to KPCC General Secretary Mithun Rai, asking him to explain his role in the incident.
Confirming the development, Rai sought to downplay the issue, calling it an internal family matter. "This is not a controversy at all. It's an internal matter of our family. The mother has given a notice to the children; there is no confusion about it," he stated, adding that he would submit his response soon.
In contrast, MLC Ivan D'Souza claimed he had not received any notice from the party leadership. He defended his actions, questioning, "Why should I get a notice? What is wrong in raising slogans in favour of our chief minister?"
Local Leadership Downplays the Episode
The reaction from the district Congress leadership has been more measured. Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee (DCC) president Harish Kumar suggested that the primary reason for the notice might have been the awkward situation faced by Venugopal.
He implied that the national leader might have been embarrassed by the public sparring. However, Kumar also noted that slogan-shouting is a routine part of political activity and expressed doubt that the AICC would escalate the matter further. This incident highlights the ongoing undercurrents and factional loyalties within the Karnataka Congress, even as the party presents a united front in the state government.
The event underscores the delicate balance of power between the camps loyal to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. The national leadership's swift notice indicates its low tolerance for public displays of disunity, especially during visits of senior figures like Venugopal.
