MYSURU: The Congress party workers’ meeting in Nanjangud turned out to be a platform for many to vent their ire against former minister V Srinivasa Prasad who resigned from the party recently. The meeting was held at APMC yard here on Sunday.
Prasad had accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his “coterie” of dropping him from the ministry unceremoniously.
Party leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Ministers H C Mahadevappa and G Parameshwara condemned the veteran leader and said they would make all efforts to mobilise the party to win Nanjangud bypoll.
The leaders devoted much of their time to reply in harsh tones to the allegations levelled by Srinivasa Prasad against the CM. They promised development works worth hundreds of crores of rupees for Nanjangud.
Claiming that the Congress government has released `1,450 crore for the development of Nanjangud taluk in the past three years, the leaders announced that more development works are in the pipeline.
‘Resignation unfortunate’
Terming the resignation of V Srinivasa Prasad unfortunate, the CM said no one is above the party and the Congress will win the bypoll. Clarifying that no one recommended or suggested Srinivasa Prasad’s name to be inducted into the cabinet in 2013, the CM said he along with KPCC president G Parameshwara had decided to induct Prasad into the ministry, considering his seniority and given him the most important Revenue portfolio.
The chief minsiter said many, including opposition members, demanded a change of guard in the Revenue ministry due to non-performance. “If I had any issues with Prasad I would not have inducted him into the ministry. I told him I would be forced to drop a few ministers to reshuffle the cabinet and dropped 14 ministers,” he said. Making baseless charges or addressing others in singular, however, is anti-democratic attitude, he added.
On Prasad accusing him of wearing Rs. 80 lakh-worth wristwatch, Siddaramaiah shot back at him, saying why was he silent on this issue when he was minister. Siddaramaiah defended induction of Priyank Kharge into the cabinet and said Prasad should have welcomed young faces into the ministry.
Siddaramaiah clarified that the party has not decided a candidate for the Nanjangud bypoll and it will be decided based on the opinion of party workers. "Congress workers will teach Prasad a lesson,"
KPCC president G Parameshwara said. Srinivasa Prasad did not start politics from the Congress and ditched the party in the fag end of his political career, he added.
Parameshwara said Prasad's poor health and age had forced the party high command to drop him from the ministry. Congress workers will teach Prasad a lesson for betraying the party after enjoying power for three years, the KPCC president added.