Daijiworld Media Network -Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 5: Even as efforts to save the coalition government through delicate balancing act are on, some senior leaders of the Congress have chosen this time to let loose their pent up anger. Even JD(S) state president, H Vishwanath, who has resigned from his post, has directed his barbs at Siddaramaiah.

Ramalinga Reddy, who is angry at not being made a minister, and Roshan Baig, too have portrayed Siddaramaiah as a villain who has dabbled in devious planning which proved to be detrimental for the government and the party. Reddy has sought dropping of leaders, holding them responsible for the party's poor showing, and infusion of new people in their places. The information that Ramalinga Reddy has the tacit support of several senior leaders of the party has come as bolt from the blue for Congress leaders who are grappling with the need to expand the ministry immediately. The leaders have also blamed Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dinesh Gundu Rao.

Gundu Rao met Siddaramaiah and held discussions but the leaders could not arrive at a decision on ministry expansion, it is learnt.

The silver lining at this period of tumult is the support extended by JD(S) legislators to Kumaraswamy's leadership and their readiness to sacrifice ministerial positions to save the government. This support came at the legislature party meeting of the JD(S) held here on Tuesday.

Roshan Baig repeats Siddaramaiah is arrogant, not to leave Congress

Congress MLA Roshan Baig, who reiterated his earlier allegation that leader of the Congress legislature party and former chief minister, Siddaramaiah, is arrogant, advised the latter to climb down from the ivory tower. Speaking to media persons here on Tuesday June 4, Baig gave vent to his sense of indignation in satirical language.

Baig said that Siddaramaiah always insists on his words being the final. "He wants that his diktat should prevail. He is proud and egotistic. He had vowed in the presence of people that Kumaraswamy would never be able to become chief minister again, and pointed out that Siddaramaiah himself later approached the latter to request him to become the CM.

"I support what former minister, Ramalinga Reddy, said. I have received notice claiming that I had indulged in anti-party activity. I will not respond to any kind of notices, and will never desert the Congress. My friend, Ramalinga Reddy, will also remain in the party. I will never become minister in this government. The party should at least offer ministerial berths to senior leaders like Ramalinga Reddy and H K Patil," he said.