The tragic stampede in Karnataka, resulting in the deaths of 11 Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fans, has triggered significant political turmoil. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have been summoned to Delhi in this regard.
New Delhi: The stampede during the celebrations following RCB's IPL victory in Bengaluru has sent shockwaves through Karnataka's political landscape. The incident, which claimed 11 lives and injured dozens, has intensified opposition attacks on the state government. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have been called to Delhi by the Congress high command.
Crucial Meeting with Rahul Gandhi on June 11 at 11 AM
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will meet both leaders in Delhi on Tuesday. The meeting will extensively discuss the background of the stampede, potential lapses in administrative preparedness, and the state government's response. Senior party leader and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala will also be present at this crucial meeting.
Stampede Background: Celebration Turned Tragedy
Following Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) historic victory in IPL 2025, a victory procession was organized in the city. While intended as a celebratory occasion for the team and fans, the event turned tragic due to administrative failures in crowd control. The inadequate security arrangements, coupled with intense heat and a massive crowd, proved disastrous. Disorder and rumors led to a stampede, resulting in 11 deaths and numerous serious injuries.
Opposition parties have bly criticized the Congress government following the incident, alleging a lack of adequate security and crowd control measures. The opposition has termed the incident a failure of the state government and demanded accountability from the Chief Minister. Parties like the BJP and JDS have demanded a special session of the assembly to discuss this serious matter. The opposition is also questioning whether the government is attempting to shield itself politically by making scapegoats of police officials.
Internal Dissension Within the Ruling Party
The Congress organization in Karnataka appears to be divided into three major factions:
- Siddaramaiah faction
- D.K. Shivakumar faction
- Home Minister G. Parameshwara's faction
Amidst the pre-existing tensions between these factions, the stampede has intensified demands for collective accountability. The party high command fears that if the issue is not resolved quickly, it could damage the party's image before the 2026 assembly elections.
Administrative Action and Questions
Following the incident, five senior officials, including Bengaluru's former Police Commissioner B. Dayanand, were immediately suspended. The government claims this action was taken impartially. However, Siddaramaiah has stated that "the state government did not show any negligence, the administration tried its best to control the situation. The stampede was an unfortunate incident, but politicizing it is wrong."
Expected Outcome of Rahul Gandhi's Meeting?
The Congress leadership views this entire episode not merely as an administrative failure, but as a politically serious crisis. The objective of Rahul Gandhi's meeting is:
- A thorough review of the incident
- Identification of responsible individuals
- Future action plan
- Damage control of the party's image
Sources suggest that Rahul Gandhi wants to gather opinions from all sides before making any public statement to avoid hasty pronouncements.
A Two-Pronged Challenge for Congress
The party is facing both opposition attacks and the need to address internal conflicts and management weaknesses. The party is attempting to portray the incident as a purely administrative lapse to minimize political damage. Rahul Gandhi's meeting is a crucial crisis management step for the party, where the future government statements and concrete actions will be decided.
