Wary Congress Ties to Keep Flock Together

District In-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy asked all the corprators to avoid any unnecessary conversation with BJP till the mayoral elections are held

BENGALURU: Congress corporators were asked to attend an emergency meeting at KPCC office on Saturday. Party leaders briefed all the corporators not to be taken in by BJP’s talk and asked them not to generate any negative feelings about the party as the BJP was also indulging in bad-mouthing it.

District In-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy asked all the corprators to avoid any unnecessary conversation with BJP till the mayoral elections are held. He also condemned the BJP leaders for passing remarks about the Chief Minister.

“The independent corporators had approached Congress leaders for help and cooperation to develop their respective wards. The same candidates were disrespected by their own party leaders as a result of which they became rebels and also won the elections. With growing animosity between their leaders, they fear that development works may be effected, hence they have come to Congress seeking help. Any person or party that comes with secular credentials and to develop the city are most welcome,” Ramalinga Reddy said.

On Monday, there will be another set of meetings with all the corporators, a few MLAs and senior Congress leaders to discuss the future course of action.

“They (BJP) are talking about poaching now. But they should remember ‘Operation Lotus’ in 2008 where 20 legislators from Congress and JD(S) were poached,” said a senior Congress leader.

Congress leader Amarnath, whose wife Padmavathi R has won Chowdeshwari ward in Yelahanka assembly constituency, said that a few BJP leaders attempted to reach him for talks.

However, M K Gunashekhar from Jayamahal ward and Sampath Raj from D J Halli ward termed the incident as ‘out of proportion’. “A few leaders called to wish her and this cannot be taken as migration or a conspiracy,” Sampath Raj said.

MLA Byrathi Suresh and Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao also attended the meeting.

JD(S) Camp

The JD(S), which had directed all its corporators to be back in the city by September 5, has asked them to stay back for a few more days.

“Naavu ille irthivi (We will stay here). Once we get directions from the JD(S) supremo and state party president, we will shift from Kerala,” Mahalakshmipuram MLA K Gopalaiah said.

BJP leader C K Ramamurthy responded to the situation saying that the BJP too was making an effort to bring back three corporators — Ramesh from Marathalli ward, Lakshminarayan from Domlur ward and Chandrappa Reddy from Konena Agrahara ward.

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