New Delhi: Infighting among the Congress party’s Karnataka unit escalated regarding the leadership row in the state. After state Congress president DK Shivakumar announced his candidature for the post of Chief Minister, he told the party leaders on Saturday that they should zip their mouths and bring the party to power in the state, reported news agency IANS.
"If you have real respect for the party, stop worshipping individuals and worship the party. Focus on bringing more people to the fold of the party. Let all leaders organise their communities and bring the Congress to power in Karnataka," Shivakumar stated, quoted by the news agency.
Shivakumar’s statement came in response to a remark by Congress MLA and Siddaramaiah's close associate Zameer Ahmed Khan who said that Muslim community has more voters than dominant Vokkaliga community and that he was also in the race for the post of Chief Minister.
"The CM post is not vacant now. Everyone should zip their mouth. I am telling this to everyone," the state Congress president underlined.
Shivakumar defended his statement of expressing his wish to become CM as there is no harm in any candidate winning out of 224 assembly constituencies in the state wishing to become CM.
Congress party Campaign Committee President M. B. Patil had earlier stated that he will not identify himself with either Shivakumar camp or Siddaramaiah camp as he has his own identity. The statement of Shivakumar stands contradicted by party leaders leading to more confusion in the present circumstances, insiders in Congress said.