India, Feb. 18 -- The state Congress face internal differences as a group of leaders have called the series of large-scale conventions aimed at mobilising support among Dalits, backward classes, and minorities as a strategic move to reinforce chief minister Siddaramaiah's influence within the party and signal his dominance to both the Congress high command and deputy CM DK Shivakumar. However, the Congress has officially described as efforts to strengthen the party.

According to leaders close to Siddaramaiah, these events were "conventions of oppressed classes" and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will likely be invited to inaugurate them. On Monday, minister for cooperation KN Rajanna asserted that the Congress leadership ...