BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla accused Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge of being a "remote-controlled president" during a public attack on the party.
The criticism highlights a deepening rift within the Congress party as leadership struggles intensify over the chief ministership of Karnataka. This internal friction provides an opening for political opponents to question the party's autonomy and its decision-making processes.
Poonawalla's comments, made on May 6, 2024 [1], link the perceived weakness of the party presidency to the influence of the Gandhi family. He said that the party's leadership structure is not independent, effectively operating under the direction of a few individuals rather than through its official president.
This attack coincides with a visible power struggle in Karnataka between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar. While some reports describe the battle for the state's throne as a significant headache for the party, Congress leadership has dismissed these reports of a power struggle.
During a press conference in Mysuru on May 6, 2024 [1], Siddaramaiah addressed the tension surrounding the chief minister post. He said that he would act according to what the high command decides.
"The decision rests with the party's high command," Siddaramaiah said [2].
The dispute centers on who will retain the chief minister's office, a position that remains a point of contention between the two senior leaders. The high command in Delhi is expected to mediate the conflict to ensure stability within the state government.
Despite the public denials from the party, the ongoing friction between the state leadership and the central command continues to fuel criticism from the BJP. Poonawalla's remarks emphasize the narrative that the Congress party lacks a functional, independent leadership structure at the top.
“"Mallikarjun Kharge is a remote‑controlled president."”
The clash reflects a recurring tension within the Congress party between institutional leadership and the influence of the Gandhi family. By framing the party president as 'remote-controlled,' the BJP is attempting to undermine the legitimacy of the Congress hierarchy while exploiting the public friction between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to portray the party as unstable and fragmented.
