Congress leader Siddaramaiah, while speaking to media persons in Hassan on Saturday said the party leadership had admitted to its mistake of not involving him in selecting candidates for the Legislative Council. “National president Sonia Gandhi has assured me the party will ensure that similar mistakes are not repeated,” he said.
Mr. Siddaramaiah added that he had not said he was uncomfortable in the party, and he would not quit it. He only raised the issue that he was being ignored while major decisions were being made.
“The party conventionally involves the Leader of the Opposition in taking important decisions. That was not followed this time. It is my responsibility to bring this to the notice of the party high command. I discussed the reason for my resignation to my leader. There is room for expressing dissent in the Congress,” he said. Moreover, he refused to attribute any motive behind him being sidelined in the selection process.
He exuded confidence that Congress candidate Lakshman for the South Teachers' Constituency would win. “The party announced its candidate eight months before the election and that helped the candidate reach out to voters. There is a wave in favour of the Congress in the State as people are disappointed with Bharatiya Janata Party rule. BJP State president K.S. Eshwarappa has admitted to the corrupt practices they employed to come to power,” he said.