BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje that Rahul Gandhi is a 'bachcha' provokes Siddaramaiah to anger

BENGALURU: A comment by BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is a “bachcha” (child) has provoked Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah to anger.

Karandlaje, a close aide of BJP vice-president B S Yeddyurappa, called Rahul Gandhi a “bachcha” in Indian politics, while commenting on the Bihar election results. This riled Siddaramaiah so much that he said: “BJP leaders lack culture, they don’t even know how to talk. Rahul Gandhi is a four-time MP. He is a responsible leader.He cannot be called a bachacha”

Siddaramaiah’s vehement defence has caused some amount of surprise in the political circles, as he is not known to kow-tow to the Gandhi family. He built his entire political career speaking against dynasty and the Congress, till he joined the party in 2007.

Since then, the criticism within the Congress circles against him is that he has not been able to blend with the Congress culture. “Suddenly, he has become more Congressi than old Congressmen,” a senior party leader told ET sarcastically.

There is discussion within the party that the the CM was chastised by the party High Command during his visit to New Delhi in the last week of October, to expand his cabinet. Several sections of the party has complained to the High Command against Siddaramaiah’s “arrogant behaviour.”