12/27/2019 Can’t blackmail Congress: DK Shivakumar slams lobbying for top posts - Times of India

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Can’t blackmail Congress: DK Shivakumar slams

lobbying for top posts
TNN | Dec 27, 2019, 09.11 AM IST

BENGALURU: DK Shivakumar, seen as a frontrunner in the race to lead the

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), on Thursday criticised
attempts by some party colleagues to lobby for the position, terming them
as blackmail.
“The Congress cannot be blackmailed into doing something. It is not
based on individuals and has its own ideology. You cannot expect the
party to yield to any individuals,” said the Vokkaliga strongman and former
water resources minister.

Earlier this month, Siddaramaiah and Dinesh Gundu Rao quit as Congress
Legislature Party leader and KPCC president, respectively, after the party’s
dismal show in the recent byelections. The party leadership is yet to take
a call on their resignations, but there is already a crowded field of aspirants, especially for the post of the state unit chief.

Shivakumar said he knew the party well after three decades of association and it could sideline any functionary, irrespective of
how strong they were, at a moment’s notice.

“Congress has the ability to remove the topi [cap] atop one person and put it on another person within moments. No matter
who it is, be it me or anyone, such tactics [lobbying] will not work with the party,” he said.

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12/27/2019 Can’t blackmail Congress: DK Shivakumar slams lobbying for top posts - Times of India

There are no indications from the Congress camp yet on whether Siddaramaiah and Rao’s resignations would be accepted or
they would be asked to continue in the posts, but that has not prevented their colleagues from undertaking hectic lobbying.

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