India
The dust is yet to settle over the Karnataka Cabinet reshuffle and here comes another round of trouble for the Congress. This time, the party’s five MLAs have expressed dissent over missing the opportunity to head various boards and corporations in the state
Bengaluru: There seems to be no end to the troubles in Karnataka Congress. After the Cabinet reshuffle resulted in differences in the party coming out in the open, now at least five legislators have expressed their displeasure over missing out on heading various boards and corporations in the state.
Chikkaballapur MLA D Sudhakar was the first to make it public his unhappiness over missing the chance to become the chairman of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).
Talking to MyNation, Sudhakar said, "Earlier I had told that we don't have to kneel down before the JD(S). That does not mean I am criticising or showing dissidence, I expressed my opinion. I am hurt as the party has taken action against my supporters for reaching out to senior leaders to give a memorandum."
On Tuesday, Sudhakar’s supporters were suspended by the Congress for openly criticising the party after their leader missed out on heading KSPCB. The Congress had recommended Sudhakar’s name for chairman of KSPCB. However, it was not accepted by chief minister HD Kumaraswamy.
Sudhakar said that he has already got an invitation from the BJP to desert the Congress, but his commitment to the democratic setup, secular values, love for former chief minister Siddaramaiah and respect for party president Rahul Gandhi is forcing him to continue as a loyal Congressman.
Sudhakar also said that he will talk to senior leaders to relook into the party in-charge of Karnataka, KC Venugopal's decision to suspend his supporters.
"The leaders are made by followers, I will not leave my followers as they are my godfathers," he said.
Sudhakar is not the only one who is dumped by the Congress-JD(S) coalition. MLAs ST Somashekhar (Yeshwantpur), NA Harris (Shanthi Nagar), Subba Reddy (Bagepally) and T Venkataramanaiah (Doddaballapura) were also snubbed by the chief minister.
While Somashekar's supporters including Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) corporators threatened to resign as he was denied Bangalore Development Authority’s (BDA) chairman position, other legislators and their supporters are yet to take any such decision and have opted to wait and watch.
Recently, Congress has proposed names of 19 legislators to head various boards and corporation 30 posts. Kumaraswamy delayed it for a while and gave his accent only to 14 legislators.
Following this development, some of the senior Congress leaders said that, in some cases, Kumaraswamy's brother and minister HD Revanna had opposed the names of Congress legislators.
"T Venkataramanaiah's name was recommended to head Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) but Revanna has turned down this request as KRDCL comes under his public works department," said a senior Congress leader, who requested anonymity.
The opposition BJP is more than happy about the trouble brewing in the coalition which may result in the collapse of the government.
"The power struggle seems to continue even after seven months of formation of the government. Even district in-charge ministers are not announced. The government does not enjoy the confidence of the people. The welfare of the people is taking a backseat." said S Prakash, Karnataka BJP spokesperson.
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