Siddaramaiah’s close aides launch attack on him

Three close aides of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah — MLAs S.T. Somashekar, Byrathi Basavaraj, and Munirathna, who have tendered resignations to their Assembly membership — on Tuesday launched an attack on their political mentor.

Reacting sharply to Mr. Siddaramaiah’s statement that all “rebel” MLAs should be disqualified, Mr. Somashekar wondered if Mr. Siddaramaiah had attracted provisions of the anti-defection law when he came to the Congress by quitting the JD(S). He sought to remind Mr. Siddaramaiah that the three MLAs had a role to play in him becoming the Chief Minister.

Mr. Basavaraj even alleged that Mr. Siddaramaiah had not responded positively when he expressed pain over his constituency being “neglected” for development works.