BENGALURU: Enthused by its victory in the by-polls in Nanjangud and Gundlupet, the Congress leadership has decided to crack the whip at those who have been a source of frequent embarrassment. KPCC working president Dinesh Gundu Rao has warned of disciplinary action against some senior leaders who have been attacking the Siddaramaiah government.
Rao, who returned to the city from Delhi on Sunday after meeting top brass Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, said the party national leaders have been apprised of the conduct of some senior leaders who have been criticising the Siddaramaiah government and state leadership.
The party high command has conveyed a subtle message of disciplinary action against such leaders if they do not mend their ways.
The warning is apparently directed at former KPCC president Janardhana Poojary and former MP H Vishwanath who have been attacking Siddaramaiah repeatedly.
Poojary, it may be recalled, had said that Congress would not win even a single seat in the by-poll held recently for Nanjangud and Gundlupet seats.
Rao, without taking the name of Poojary, said that a Mangaluru-based senior leader had embarrassed the Congress by predicting total drubbing for the party in the by-poll. Such utterances against the party from those within the party would not be tolerated, Rao warned.
Vishwanath too has been scathing in his attack against Siddaramaiah. Vishwanath had even written a letter to party supremo Sonia Gandhi in the aftermath of the cabinet reshuffle last year seeking for a change of leadership in the state.
“The party ought to consider a replacement for the top post in the state. There shouldn’t be any hesitation in taking drastic measures to protect the party’s interests. If the situation calls for it, then the party should consider changing the leadership in the state,” Vishwanath had said in his letter accusing Siddaramaiah of functioning like an autocrat without caring for the party old-timers.
Start preparations for 2018, Siddaramaiah told
According to party sources, the Congress high command has instructed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC president G Parameshwara to prepare the draft list of party candidates for the 2018 Assembly polls and forward it to them (high command) for approval.
The high command wants to start preparations for the 2018 assembly polls right away to ensure that party retains power in Karnataka.