From Special Correspondent
Bengaluru, Jan 28: A day after publicly criticizing Congress-JD(S) coalition Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy that no development had taken place in Bengaluru City during the coalition government, Congress MLA and BDA chairman S T Somashekhar on Monday expressed his regret and apologised to the Chief Minister for remarks.
Somashekar’s apology came after KPCC Chief Dinesh Gundu Rao warned “Congress leaders and legislators not to make controversial statements and be careful in their comments and not to cross the Laksmana Rekha.’’
K C Venugopal, AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, also swung into swift action and directed State Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao to seek clarification from Somashekar, two-time Yeshwanthpur MLA.
Both KPCC Chief and Venugopal stepped in quickly after the Chief Minister publicly declared that he was ready to step down if the Congress party does not want him. "I am not after power and interested in sticking to the chair swallowing insults,’’ he said.
Rao tweeted “Somashekhar has now apologised for his statement critical of the coalition government. Somashekar came to KPCC office and explained his statement to me. He has expressed his regret and apologised to the CM for any anguish caused.”
The State Congress President said: “Our coalition with the JD(S) is to take on the communal forces and unseat the anti-democratic forces ruling this country, not to indulge in petty politicking."
Venugopal also said that “the Congress High command has full faith in the State government and the Chief Minister.’’
"The Government is moving ahead with popular and welfare measures reflecting the ambitions of the people in Karanataka,” Venugopal tweeted.
Venugopal said, “party will take strong disciplinary action and will not tolerate any such indiscipline statements and actions” from any party leaders and legislators.
Commenting on Somashekar’sstatment that a lot of work was done during the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s tenure, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said Siddaramaiah was the best CM the State had ever had.
"Siddaramaiah has been best CM. He is our CLP leader. What is wrong in expressing opinions,” he said.