Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)

Belagavi, Dec 11: The Congress legislators, who took part enthusiastically in the parliamentary party meeting that was held after a long gap on Wednesday December 10 here, took this opportunity to openly take their ministers to task for inefficiency, apathy,corruption, and getting involved with business of transfers. Sources also said that several legislators, who raised the banner of revolt, also warned in the presence of the chief minister(CM), that they will write to All India Congress Committee, listing out the irregularities, if the wrongdoings do not stop.

After several MLAs expressed their anguish at the functioning of party ministers,Yashwanthpur MLA, S T Somashekhar, directed his attack at minister, Shivaraj Tangadagi. 'Tangadagi, instead of posting an executive engineer suggested by me to my constituency, has transferred an officer who paid him a bribe of three lac rupees. In addition, he also threatened the officer suggested by me of suspension,' he said angrily. 'I have conducted several state level meetings at my own expense at the request of the party, and have remained loyal to the party since long. How can I tolerate if I am treated this way?' he questioned. He also said that neither the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president (AICC) nor the CM have been coming to his rescue on this issue. It is learnt that Somashekhar also threatened to write to AICC if he does not get justice in the issue.

It is said that Siddaramaiah immediately intervened in the matter and sought explanation from the concerned minister on the controversy. He also instructed the minister to cancel the transfer of the other officer, and post the person suggested by the MLA in his place.

It is learnt that Somashekhar also said that when he approached energy minister, D K Shivakumar, for transfer of a Bescom engineer, the minister asked him to approach his brother, D K Suresh, who happens to be an MP. 'I approached D K Suresh, but the favour I sought was not extended. In one case, the chief minister had instructed Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike(BBMP) commissioner to transfer an ARO of BBMP, but because of pressure brought by a minister, this instruction was not obeyed,' he claimed.

Bangarpet MLA, Narayana Swamy, alleged that a coterie of powerful ministers has been created within the ministry, and that these ministers, by entering into an understanding to sanction grants to each other's constituencies, are meting out injustice to other legislators. It is said that he alleged that out of a sum of Rs 235 sanctioned under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund sanctioned to the state, Rs 135 crore had been utilized for the district represented by minister, Shamanur Shivashankarappa with the connivance of PWD minister, Mahadevappa.

Several MLAs including Malikayya Guttedar and Koliwad alleged that some ministers have been demanding bribe ranging between five and eight percent for release of grants. Hungund MLA, Vijayanand Kashappanavar, accused Bagalkot district in-charge minister, S R Patil, of purposefully sidelining him. Guttedar said that the engine (CM) of the government is in good shape, but the compartments (ministers) have rusted. He asked such compartments to be assigned to dustbin and replace them with new ministers like him. He expressed anger at the fact that he was not given a post either in the party, ministry, board, or corporation, in spite of being loyal and senior activist of the party.

Sources said that the chief minister, sensing that the situation was moving towards chaos, cut short the meeting citing shortage of time, duly promising to hold such a meeting in near future.