Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Jun 26: The dissidence in the state unit of Congress, which was threatening to snowball into major crisis, appears to have become feeble. Former minister, Srinivas Prasad, who is nursing a grouse at his unceremonial exit from the ministry, made unsuccessful attempts to meet former chief minister, S M Krishna, on his return from Mumbai on Saturday June 25. Prasad had to return disappointed at his hope of winning over the sympathy of the former chief minister and union minister. There is also a widespread belief that Krishna, who had held various positions including that of the governor when Congress was in power, may not want to create trouble for the party.
Realizing that belligerence in the rival group is dying down and number of hostile members in that camp is dwindling, chief minister, Siddaramaiah, seems to have begun to quell the rivalry further by giving posts to disgruntled people in boards and corporations. On Saturday, he made Byrathi Basavaraju and S T Somashekhar, identified in his camp, members of Bengaluru Development Authority. He is expected to dole out of positions in boards and corporations to important leaders in course of time towards totally subduing the rebellion. He seems to be emanating signals that those who come out of the dissidents camp can hope to bag a lucrative position.
The camp of dissidents seem to be suffering for want of leadership. Chances of Krihna providing them leadership are almost nil and he might at the best meet them individually. So, holding of a separate meeting of rebels appears to be out of question.
On his part, chief minister, Siddaramaiah, said that the discontentment among some leaders of the party has been resolved by top leaders of the party who talked to the disgruntled people. He said that his prime focus now will solely be on development.
In the meanwhile, ousted ministers, Kimmane Ratnakar and P T Parameshwar Naik, addressing a press conference at Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office on Saturday, advised the disgruntled partymen to concentrate on providing good administration to the people rather than fighting against the government. Kimmane reminded them that Congress had to hand over power to BJP in similar situation a few years back because of dissidence, greed, and corruption. He asked the concerned to get their problems resolved within the party circles rather than going public with utterances against the chief minister.
Naik said that his being left out of the ministry had nothing to do with the resignation of Kudligi deputy superintendent of police, Anupama Shenoy.