Bengaluru, Sep 10 (Reporter) In a strongly worded letter to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, a group of senior Congress leaders on Tuesday raised alarm over internal strife and public jockeying for the Chief Minister’s post, which they say is hampering governance in Karnataka. The letter, signed by prominent leaders including VS Ugrappa, BL Shankar, VR Sudarshan, HM Revanna, B Chandrappa, L Hanumanthaiah, Prakash Rathod, PR Ramesh, and CS Dwarakanath, was sent amid rising tensions within the state Congress. The leaders warned that more than six senior Congress figures, including ministers, are making statements about the Chief Minister’s position instead of focusing on countering the BJP and JDS. "This infighting is demoralising our leaders and workers, and many are losing hope in the party and the government," the letter stated. The signatories expressed concern that the public display of ambition is not only fracturing party unity but also eroding public trust. "People of Karnataka are slowly losing their faith and confidence in our party and government due to infighting and reckless statements from our leaders," the letter noted, emphasising that the ongoing leadership tussle is causing serious damage to the party’s image. The leaders also underscored that the internal discord has significantly impacted governance, stating, "The state government’s administration has been hampered to a great extent." The call for action comes as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah faces a legal battle in the Karnataka High Court over the alleged MUDA scam, adding to the mounting challenges for the Congress. The escalating leadership struggle has fueled speculation about a potential change, with several senior ministers and legislators openly positioning themselves as contenders, thereby intensifying the party’s internal crisis. The letter urged Kharge and Gandhi to issue a strong directive to senior leaders and ministers to refrain from making public statements that could further damage the party’s reputation. Adding to the discontent, MLCs Dinesh Gooli Gowda and Manjunath Bhandary, loyalists of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, called for disciplinary measures against ministers who have publicly voiced their ambitions, highlighting the growing divisions within the party...////...