Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 27: The fact that a press conference arranged by former union minister, B Janardhan Poojary, last Saturday at the district Congress office here was cancelled at the last minute, has given rise to speculation that the state leadership of the Congress, frustrated at the diatribe it has been subjected to by this influential leader from Karnataka coast, is trying to corner him.

Poojary addressed the press conference held on Tuesday at Press Club instead of his usual venue, Congress office. It is reported that he was denied permission to address press conference at the party office as there has been increased resentment within the party for the practice of bashing the party in press conferences held in its own office. Poojary, by choosing to address press conference at Press Club, seemed to send a clear signal that no one would be able to silence him.

During the last assembly election and again at the time of city corporation election, Poojary had worked for the party and ensured resounding victory for party candidates. After the state government led by Siddaramaiah was installed, Poojary was in the forefront to appreciate various schemes announced by the chief minister. However, when the turn of wrong decisions or protecting wrong people came, Poojary was vocal in deriding the style of administration. Once Yettinahole project was cleared,duly steamrolling the opposition from Dakshina Kannada district, angry Poojary rained criticism on Siddaramiah in different press conferences, expressing worries over this move delivering death blow to party in the coast. Poojary also did not dither from criticizing the government in functions held at Bengaluru and Mysuru too.

At press meet held at Press Club in Mangaluru on July 26

Kavu Hemanath Shetty, party leader from Puttur, had openly criticized Poojary for targetting the party from party forums sometime back, and had called upon Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee to act against this practice. During the recent visit of state working president of the party, Dinesh Gundu Rao to the city, some party workers had complained to him about the practice of firing salvos at the party government from its own office. Gundu Rao had said that there was no provision for the same.

Janardhan Poojary's stand is that he has been organizing press conferences to point out lacunae in the functioning of the government and not to deride anyone. He said he himself opted to hold press conference elsewhere to ensure that party leadership does not face any embarrassment on this issue.