Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge rebuked party workers who chanted slogans for Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar during a KPCC swearing-in event [1, 2].

The incident highlights internal tensions regarding party discipline and the push against individual worship within the organization during official functions.

Kharge snapped at the crowd in Bengaluru after the "DKS" slogans disrupted his scheduled speech [1, 2]. He called the workers "useless fellows" and said the party would take disciplinary action against those responsible for the disruption [1, 2].

During the outburst, Kharge emphasized that the event was intended to represent the collective organization rather than a single person. "Will the entire country be affected if you shout here? This is not an individual's programme, it is a party programme," Kharge said [1, 2].

The disruption occurred during a high-profile gathering for the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. Party officials said the chants were a violation of protocol that undermined the purpose of the swearing-in ceremony [1].

Kharge's reaction underscores a broader effort to ensure that party workers prioritize institutional loyalty over the promotion of specific leaders. The Congress leader said that such behavior would not be tolerated at official party events [1].

“"You useless fellows..."”

This confrontation reflects a struggle within the Karnataka Congress to balance the popularity of powerful regional leaders, like DK Shivakumar, with the hierarchical discipline demanded by the national party leadership. By publicly reprimanding the workers, Kharge is signaling that institutional order takes precedence over individual personality cults.