VIJAYAPURA: The simmering differences between Minister MB Patil and Congress MLAs CS Nadagouda and Yashvantharayagouda Patil escalated into an open political confrontation, with both the legislators accusing the former of conspiring to prevent them from securing ministerial berths.
Addressing the media, Nadagouda directly blamed MB Patil for the alleged injustice, claiming that the latter has consistently worked to prevent the political growth of other Congress leaders in Vijayapura district.
“It is MB Patil who is responsible for ensuring that leaders like me, Yashvanthrayagouda Patil and Shivanand Patil do not grow politically in Vijayapura. He wants to maintain his supremacy and hegemony in the district and does not want leaders from other communities to emerge,” Nadagouda said.
While Yashvanthrayagouda Patil refrained from naming MB Patil directly, he made remarks widely seen as targeting him.
“Everyone in Vijayapura knows who has been creating obstacles for us. It is an open secret that I have not been on good terms with him for decades,” Yashvanthrayagouda Patil said.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the Congress high command, Yashvanthrayagouda Patil reiterated that he had already submitted his resignation from the MLA post. There has been no official confirmation on whether the resignation has been accepted. Nadagouda, meanwhile, resigned as chairman of the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited, but continues as an MLA.
Escalating his political attack, Yashvanthrayagouda Patil declared an “open war” against MB Patil, stating that the 2028 Assembly election would be a direct political contest between the two.
He further alleged that the party high command failed to address the injustice meted out to him, forcing him to take the decision to resign. Both Yashvanthrayagouda Patil and Nadagouda said they would decide their future political course after consulting their supporters.
In his response, MB Patil denied any role in the denial of ministerial positions to the two MLAs. “The allegations are baseless. The decision on who becomes a minister rests entirely with the party leadership,” he said.
