We know how to pacify disgruntled MLAs: Siddaramaiah

Mysuru: Unfazed by the unrest that the party’s first list of candidates for the coming assembly poll has created, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said  the sitting Congress MLAs, who had not been given tickets, would be pacified.

“I will speak to them and so will Mr Rahul Gandhi, KPCC  president, Dr Parameshwar, and others. We know how to pacify them,”  he added. 

Asked about the disappointed Congress MLAs turning rebel and the Janata Dal (Secular) opening its doors to them, he demanded, “Where are they rebelling? It is quite natural for them to feel disappointed as they have not been given tickets.”

On rumours that KPCC vice president, Surdarshan was likely to leave the party, he said, “He is a senior leader and will not leave the party.” 

As for JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy’s statement that he was bound to lose from Chamundeshwari as he had lost touch with it for the last 15 years  he shot back, “Does he enjoy a great bond with the constituency? What kind of rapport does he have with it? He has never returned to his own constituency. What work has he done there?” 

While Mr Siddaramaiah admitted that disgruntled BJP leader Thippeswamy, who is upset at not being fielded by his party in Molakalmuru, had met him, he said, “It is already too late. We can’t give him the ticket now. It is tough. We will see.”

Meanwhile Hangal MLA Manohar Tahashildar met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah along with speaker Koliwad at Suttur math on Tuesday evening. Followed by that CM Siddaramaiah told media persons, “He has asked for ticket for himself. I told him that I will discuss with high command," he said.