Amid rift buzz, Cong plans events to strengthen party

I have no intention of misusing his name or making personal profit from it KN RAJANNA, Minister for cooperation

- HT Correspondent

BENGALURU: The state Congress faces internal differences as a group of leaders have called the series of large-scale conventions aimed at mobilising support among Dalits, backward classes, and minorities as a strategic move to reinforce chief minister Siddaramaiah's influence within the party and signal his dominance to both the Congress high command and deputy CM DK Shivakumar. However, the Congress has officially described as efforts to strengthen the party.

According to leaders close to Siddaramaiah, these events were "conventions of oppressed classes" and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will likely be invited to inaugurate them. On Monday, minister for cooperation KN Rajanna asserted that the Congress leadership had responded positively to the idea.

Health minister HC Mahadevappa said that "CM Siddaramaiah is a mass leader, and which political party would say no to his leadership?"