Internal Rift in Karnataka Congress Over DK Shivakumar’s DCC Working President Appointments

By Sneha Gowda | Bangalore Mail

BENGALURU: KPCC Chief and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar’s latest organizational “experiment”—appointing multiple Working Presidents to District Congress Committees (DCCs)—has hit a massive wall of internal resistance. While the move is being framed as a way to “share the workload,” many within the party’s inner circles view it as a structural blunder that could fracture the party from within.

The decision, which aims to install a layer of secondary leadership in every district, has left veteran leaders and grassroots workers questioning the logic behind such a crowded hierarchy.

“A Recipe for Chaos”

Speaking to Bangalore Mail on the condition of anonymity, several party insiders expressed disbelief at the new appointments. They argue that the move is not only redundant but also strays away from the party’s national standard.

“This is completely unnecessary at the district level. Look at any other PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) across India—you won’t find this model. Why are we reinventing the wheel in Karnataka?” questioned a senior party source.

The source further warned that the move would “create cracks” in the party’s foundation, effectively breaking the Congress at the district level by creating competing power centers. “When you have too many captains, the ship doesn’t move; it sinks,” they added.

Gift-Wrapping the Win for BJP?

The discontent isn’t just about titles; it’s about the upcoming electoral math. Another senior Congress leader highlighted that the friction caused by these appointments could be the party’s undoing in the next election cycle.

“This is going to create deep-seated differences within the party rank at the district level. Instead of fighting the opposition, our workers will be busy fighting for relevance within their own offices. This internal mess will directly help the BJP in the next elections,” the leader remarked.

Grassroots Friction

While KPCC General Secretary Milind Dharmasena argued that the move ensures better community representation and “micro-management” of districts, the feedback from the ground remains skeptical. Critics within the party fear that instead of mobilizing voters, the move will lead to a “civil war” over local jurisdiction and protocol.

As the KPCC moves forward with these appointments, the primary challenge for the ‘Troubleshooter’ of the Congress will be to ensure that his attempt to strengthen the party doesn’t end up dismantling its most vital district-level machinery.