Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday, 5 August firmly dismissed reports of dissent within the ruling Indian National Congress (INC) in Karnataka, hours after personally visiting senior legislator M. Krishnappa in Bengaluru to contain fallout from the recent Cabinet expansion. The outreach signals growing pressure on the state leadership to hold the coalition together after several veteran MLAs were passed over for ministerial positions.

The Outreach and What Was Said

Shivakumar, accompanied by All India Congress Committee (AICC) Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, visited M. Krishnappa and his son, Govindarajanagar MLA Priya Krishna, at their residence in Bengaluru's Vijayanagar locality. The visit followed widespread resentment over the denial of a ministerial berth to Krishnappa, described by the Chief Minister himself as an 'eligible, senior and loyal leader.'

'There is no dissident in the party. It was a healthy discussion. We have to take care of our leaders; we have to share responsibilities and work out a strategy. There is no question of any dissident. Where is the dissident? Everything is intact; there is no problem,' Shivakumar told reporters after the meeting.

Krishnappa's Version: 'A Mistake Was Made'

Krishnappa's account of the meeting, however, offered a more candid picture. The veteran MLA said both Shivakumar and Surjewala had acknowledged that an error occurred during the Cabinet formation and had assured him it would be corrected.

'The Chief Minister and Surjewala came and told me that some mistake happened and they will set it right. It is left to them,' Krishnappa said.

His son Priya Krishna echoed the sentiment, confirming the discussions centred on his father's exclusion from the ministry. 'They have said there has been a mistake and that they will rectify it as soon as possible. That is left to the party,' he said. Priya Krishna was also careful to distance himself from any perception of rebellion, stating: 'We are in the party. We are loyal workers. We are not deserters. We don't resign, we don't threaten, and we don't blackmail. We are fighters, and we will fight it out within the party.'

Shivakumar's Swipe at BJP's Vijayendra

When asked to respond to criticism from Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President B.Y. Vijayendra over the Congress infighting, Shivakumar declined to engage directly. 'I don't want to answer anything to Vijayendra. Let him first repair himself. Let him keep his house in order. His MLC election has shown him the door,' he said, in a pointed reference to recent setbacks faced by Vijayendra within his own party.

Damage Control in Full Swing

The visit to Krishnappa's residence is part of a broader damage-control exercise being undertaken by the Congress leadership following the Cabinet expansion, which triggered discontent among multiple senior legislators who were overlooked. Meetings with aggrieved MLAs are being conducted to prevent the unrest from escalating ahead of upcoming political challenges in Karnataka.

Notably, this is not the first time the Karnataka Congress has had to manage post-Cabinet tensions — similar exercises followed earlier reshuffles during the Siddaramaiah-era governments. Whether the assurances given to Krishnappa translate into a formal Cabinet berth will be the real test of the leadership's intent.