Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (DC)

Bengaluru, Aug 12: Former chief minister Siddaramaiah has been asked not to destabilise the Congress-JD(S) coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy in the state by Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

According to sources, Rahul during the Congress Working Committee meeting has told Siddaramaiah who is chairman of the co-ordination committee that he should extend full co-operation for the smooth functioning of the government. Siddaramaiah has also been told that though he can hold meetings with ministers and MLAs, it should not give an impression that he is trying to encourage dissident activities.

Rahul reportedly told Siddaramaiah that any issues with the government should be resolved amicably through talks and not by going to the media.

It may be recalled that Siddaraiamah had openly expressed unhappiness over the functioning of the coalition government and also the dinner meetings held with ministers and close confidants recently gave rise to speculation of possible dissident activities.

According to reports the newly appointed Pradesh Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao and working President Eshwar Khandre too were given the similar message by the national president.

It is learnt that Rahul opines that onus on running the coalition government is on the Congress since it had given unconditional support. Hence he has asked the state leaders not to disrupt or question the state government since the decision to go with the JD(S) was taken at the highest level of the party to prevent the BJP from forming the government.

The high command message comes days after some of the Congress leaders complained that Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was not heeding the Congress leaders’ advice be it in the allocation of funds or transfer of officials.