Bengaluru: Whenever there is a crisis in Karnataka Congress, the top brass looks towards DK Shivakumar, the minister for water resources in the state coalition government.

Indeed, he is a character who the high command thinks has the mettle in him to provide solutions to the worst problems in the party.

But now, while Karnataka is in a state of political mess, the high command has expressed its massive displeasure over Shivakumar’s handling of the issue.

Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha and senior Congressman Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has come to Bengaluru to oversee the crisis, is reportedly told former chief minister Siddaramaiah about his displeasure over Shivakumar going to the Mumbai hotel to meet the disgruntled elements there.

Sources said, “Ghulam Nabi wondered as to why Shivakumar went to the hotel in Mumbai where the disgruntled elements are staying. The high command doesn’t know his move. Why did he do that?”

To this, Siddaramaiah is said to have replied, “Shivakumar informed us before he left for Mumbai. Probably, the high command has not got the communication.”

The reason as to why Azad is not happy with Shivakumar visiting the disgruntled elements in Mumbai hotel is because, sources said the rebel MLAs themselves have been openly saying that they are in no mood to listen to him.

In fact, there were talks that they would shift to another hotel in an obvious bid to avoid the Congress leader. Moreover, when the ball is in the Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar’s court, it is not necessary to prevail upon the rebel MLAs to change their thinking pattern and help them return to the party.

In the meantime, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy is reportedly in touch with Shivakumar. He has asked him not to lose confidence and establish contact with rebel MLAs come what may.

But the contrary behaviour of the party high command (Azad) might confuse the party  ranks.