Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 4: It is learnt that Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) leaders had summoned some party leaders from Mandya who participated in a dinner meeting in which independent candidate of Mandya Lok Sabha constituency, Sumalatha, was also present. After getting explanations from the former MLAs who had not taken part in the election campaigning for JD(S) candidate, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the party leaders have decided not to take any disciplinary action against them,

The leaders, Cheluvarayaswamy, Ramesh Bandisiddegowda, Narendra Swamy, and K B Chandashekhar, who arrived at the KPCC office, explained that the dinner party in which Sumalatha Ambareesh was present has nothing to do with the election issue. They said that they had not met the actress-turned-politician on their own and they had taken part in the birthday party of Indavalu Schidananda, in which Sumalatha also participated.

At the same time, they told the party leaders that they have always maintained distance from the JD(S) which fact had been brought to the notice of top leaders even earlier. "We have not indulged in any anti-party activities. We have continued with our earlier policy of keeping away from the JD(S). We are answerable to party workers and leaders. Will Kumaraswamy allow Congress to grow in Mandya?" they told the leadership.

After speaking to KPCC president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Cheluvarayaswamy, speaking to media persons, said that the discussion centred around the release of the video clip of the said party, adding that whatever information was required was conveyed. "Being a national party, our leaders will take decisions, and our party leaders know how to handle individual issues. We are committed to stand by their decisions. Chief minister, Kumaraswamy, himself had admitted that the situation in Mandya had gone out of control. He is silent now, but someone else is creating confusion," he stated.

Dinesh Gundu Rao said that no steps are proposed to be taken against party leaders from Mandya as they have explained that they had gone to attend the party on private invitation and it was not political. He said that the chief minister had not discussed about the video of the Mandya party with him, and he is not aware about reported complaint he had filed with Congress high command. Confessing that coalition principles were not followed in several constituencies including Mandya, he said result will reveal the truth.