Karnataka Congress's call for 'like-minded' MLAs' meet raises eyebrows
Yeshwanthpura Congress legislator ST Somashekara has called for a Congress meeting of 'like-minded' MLAs on April 30. Though several Congress leaders claimed that the meeting is about the allocation of funds for particular constituencies, BJP alleged that the meeting is about showcasing Congress's superiority over the JD(S) to once again let Siddaramaiah become Karnataka’s chief minister.
FollowBengaluru: Amid the present coalition worries and dissidence within the ruling government surfacing again, Karnataka chief minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday met the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary KC Venugopal to discuss more on the political developments in the state.
Just when the meeting concluded, Yeshwanthpura Congress legislator ST Somashekara reportedly called for another meeting of "like-minded" MLAs on April 30 to seek their suggestions and find a solution to the present political situation in the state.
Speaking to Newsable, Kengal Shreepada Renu, Congress spokesperson, said, "It is just a meeting of MLAs for the development of their constituencies. The meeting has nothing to do with government's alleged instability. The MLAs want to know the details of allocation of funds for the development of their constituencies. None of the MLAs want an election now, especially when the state has just the general election."
Reacting to Renu’s comment, BJP MLC Ashwanthnarayan said, "This meeting is definitely not called for fund allocation. Who is Somashekar to allot funds to the constituencies? The chief minister or the deputy chief minister should call for an 'all party' meeting of the MLAs. The Congress is trying to show that it wants Siddaramaiah to be their chief minister. Congress is trying to portray the fact that they are in no way less than the JD(S)."
Meanwhile, reports claimed that Kumaraswamy and Venugopal discussed the threat imposed by disgruntled Congress MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, who wants to quit the party along with legislators close to him. Lok Sabha polls in the state concluded recently, and the preparations for the May 19 by-polls to Chincholi and Kundgol Assembly segments have begun.
Reports further stated that the leaders discussed the strategy to be adapted to pacify the disgruntled MLAs, who may pose a threat to the coalition government.
However, Kumaraswamy on Thursday took stock of the situation with his deputy chief minister G Parameshwara and senior minister DK Shivakumar.
The by-poll to Chincholi was necessitated as Umesh Jadhav quit as Congress MLA and joined the BJP to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Gulbarga, while the Kundgol fell vacant following the death of MLA and Minister CS Shivalli.
The Chincholi and Kundgol by-polls will be held on May 19 for which results will be declared on May 23, along with the Lok Sabha poll results.
