As the discontent in Congress appears to be damaging the coalition government’s image, party president Rahul Gandhi will be holding a meeting with Congress leaders, including former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Wednesday to resolve differences.
Mr. Gandhi is likely to hold talks separately with a Congress team led by Mr. Siddaramaiah, and with former Minister and MLA Satish Jarkiholi.
Mr. Gandhi will hold a meeting with Mr. Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao, and AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka K.C. Venugopal. Later, he will meet Mr. Jarkiholi, sources said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Siddaramaiah told presspersons here on Tuesday that there are no dissident activities in the State Congress and “all is well in the party”. “No MLA is resigning from Congress and joining BJP. Our party legislators are disciplined soldiers,” he said.
Asked about the Jarkiholi brothers, he shot back and said: “Who are you? Are you solving it? There is a party high command to look into the issue.”
Mr. Siddaramaiah later tweeted: “The rumours of MLAs toppling the government are baseless and unfounded. There may be slight differences over development in their constituencies and that does not mean quitting. None of the MLAs will leave the party. @BJP Karnataka, led by their power-hungry leaders, is trying hard to topple the government but any efforts towards that direction is futile.”
About his scheduled visit to Delhi, Mr. Siddaramaiah said he will be meeting Mr. Gandhi to select candidates for six vacant Legislative Council seats.
The bypolls to three Legislative Council seats will be held on October 3. The Congress will field two candidates, while JD(S) one. The coalition partners will follow the same pattern in nomination of candidates to three vacant seats in the Council.
The Congress leader said he will not hold talks on Cabinet expansion with Mr. Gandhi.
