The letter sent by Siddaramaiah, who is the president of Congress Legislative Party (CLP) also states that party membership of those who do not take part in the meeting is at stake
A letter inviting the members of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) to the meeting on January 18 also looks like a warning. A letter sent by former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, who is the president of the CLP, has issued a warning to legislators and has made attending the meeting mandatory.
It looks like the recent developments of two independents withdrawing support from the Congress-JD(S) coalition government and at least four MLAs threatening to do the same, has worried the Congress leadership.
As mentioned in the letter, Siddaramaiah has said that the CLP meet has been convened to discuss the recent developments in the state. Action will be taken against those who do not attend this, states the letter.
Here is the translation of the letter issued in Kannada by Siddaramaiah.
"Congress is convening the Legislative Party (CLP) meet on January 18 at 3.30 PM in the conference hall in Vidhana Soudha. The meeting has been convened following the recent political developments in the state. Everyone should attend the meeting without fail. The meeting will also be attended by deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwara, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao and secretary B Eshwar Khandre.
“If you do not attend the meeting, the absence will be taken seriously. It will be deemed that you are giving up the primary membership of the Congress party voluntarily. Action will be taken against those under Section 10 of the Anti Defection Law. All the members of the CLP have been asked to be mandatorily present for the January 18 meeting."
Tired of threatening from some of its influential MLAs including Ramesh Jarkiholi, is Congress trying to issue another whip ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to keep the flock together?
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