A meeting of the Congress legislators has been convened on Wednesday (May 29) at Hotel Lalit Ashok here for introspection on the party’s defeat and ensuring stability of the coalition government.
The meeting would provide an opportunity for the Congress to demonstrate unity among its legislators to counter the alleged bid by the BJP to topple the coalition government headed by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will chair the CLP meeting and all MLCs and MLAs will attend, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao told presspersons. The meet would discuss various issues that caused the party’s defeat in the recently concluded general elections. All legislators would be given an opportunity to express their opinion freely, he said.
The disgruntled
The meeting is expected to be stormy, with many legislators set to air their anguish over the functioning of the coalition government. A few days ago, Bengaluru Development Authority Chairman S.T. Somashekhar had kicked up a row by saying that the present political situation in Karnataka was “worsening day by day”.
The CLP meet has also assumed significance in the wake of a section of disgruntled MLAs threatening to quit the party in support of the formation of a BJP government in the State. Given the party’s defeat and open criticism against the State Congress leaders, sources said a few legislators are likely to abstain from the meet.
Legislators unhappy
Legislators such as R. Roshan Baig, B.C. Patil, Ramesh Jarkiholi, B. Nagendra, Anand Singh, and a few others reportedly have not been happy with the present Congress leadership and the functioning of the coalition government.
With the victory of nine Lingayat MPs from the State in the LS polls, leaders such as Mr. B.C. Patil have already expressed their resentment. “Neglect of the Lingayat-Veerashaiva community is one of the major reasons for the party’s defeat,” Mr. B.C. Patil told media channels on Saturday. In fact, four of the dissidents had skipped the CLP meeting held in January. The Congress had then issued notices to them seeking an explanation for their absence. Umesh Jadhav, who skipped the CLP meet, quit the party in March and contested LS elections from Kalaburagi and won on a BJP ticket against party veteran M. Mallikarjun Kharge. Three other MLAs, who abstained then, were Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was dropped as Minister in the Cabinet rejig held in Decembr last year, Mr. Nagendra, and Mahesh Kumatahalli. Replying to a question on the notice served to Mr. Roshan Baig for his comments against Congress leaders, Mr. Rao said, “We will take action based on the reply given by Mr. Baig.”
