New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) Following the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Thursday criticised the Congress for its alleged internal conflicts and “factionalism”, saying that the “collapse of the Congress is certain”.

Talking to IANS, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal said: “There is something wrong going on in the Congress. The collapse of the Congress is certain, and because of this. The party is struggling with a dilemma.”

He added that resignations of party leaders, whether from their posts or the party itself, clearly shows that the “Congress is a sinking ship that no one wants to stay on for long”.

BJP MP Dinesh Sharma called the Congress government in Karnataka as that of “loot”.

He said: “In this government, corruption was being done by Siddaramaiah. Whatever was left incomplete, D. Shivakumar will complete it.”

“Today Congress is moving to become a party without any leadership and, in a way, is fighting for its existence. Under (Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition) Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, Congress will register its 100th defeat in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls,” he told IANS.

BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat alleged that there is “factionalism” within the Congress which reflects the current state of the party.

“The party is not succeeding in winning elections in any state, and even in places where the public once trusted them; it (Congress) is now unable to focus on the welfare of the people due to its internal divisions,” she told IANS.

She accused LoP Rahul Gandhi of being careless about his party.

“The people of Karnataka are suffering due to Rahul Gandhi’s carelessness. There cannot be a bigger drawback than this for a national political party, which is unable to keep its leaders united,” Sehrawat said.

However, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari maintained that it is the party that decides who will be the Chief Minister. “It is their party, their government, they will decide it,” he said.

Meanwhile, after submitting his resignation to the Governor’s Secretary on Thursday, Siddaramaiah stated that the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting and the party high command would take the final decision on the next Chief Minister of Karnataka.

Responding to questions regarding the discussions held in Delhi with the Congress high command, Siddaramaiah revealed that he had been offered a role in national politics but politely declined the proposal.

–IANS

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