Without a leader at the top who can bring discontented elements within the party to the discussion table, the Congress is finding it difficult to douse the fire started at Karnataka. Party insiders feel that the BJP may soon employ the same tactic in Madhya Pradesh, too, to destabilise the Kamal Nath-led government in the State.

AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka KC venugopal is camping in Bangalore to placate the rebel MLAs, but he does not seem to have found success. The State leadership is more or less alone in its efforts to save the government. Apparently, it has not received any directions from the high command on dealing with the situation. The BJP has also maintained that it has no role to play in the crisis. Last week, as soon as the Karnataka crisis started, senior leaders held an informal meeting to assess the situation. But even after that, a message could not be sent to the State.

Senior leader DK Shivakumar has been playing the role of chief troubleshooter since the beginning of HD Kumaraswamy government’s tenure.

Sources in the party indicate that even he could not handle the latest situation. A senior leader said that in such situations, the Congress President used to summon the rebels to Delhi or send his emissary to hold parleys with them. But in this case, no one from the high command took any initiative to reach out to the rebels.

Venugopal, however, was hopeful of solving the problem. He said the BJP was indulging in horse trading to destabilise the State government. After ensuring the resignation of all ministers, he said they have done so to protest the BJP’s anti-democratic stand. “We are confident they will come back and this government will continue,” he said.

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