Plot against HDD kin? CM pulls up Dinesh Gundurao

Bengaluru: Upset over Congress leaders openly rebelling against his family members who have entered the fray from Mandya, Hassan and Tumakuru parliamentary constituencies, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy reportedly made his displeasure known to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundurao, when the latter called on him on Sunday.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader in the JD(S) said that Mr Kumaraswamy is deeply hurt over the manner in which Congress leaders are rebelling against his family members. "Mr Kumaraswamy clearly suspects a conspiracy against his family as a section of Congress leaders are not even sparing former prime minister, H.D. Deve Gowda. It is not a question of his son Nikhil or his nephew, Prajwal  facing hurdles. What pains him more is the manner in which the Congress has started playing with the poll prospects of Mr Gowda. In Hassan, Tumakuru and Mandya, Gowda is facing a rebellion and this forced Kumarswamy to tell Gundurao directly that the Congress must rein in their leaders before it's too late," the source explained.

Gundurao reportedly called on Mr Kumaraswamy to seek his support as well as to  chalk out joint campaign strategies. But the meet ing instead saw Kumaraswamy expressing his displeasure to Gundurao.

Kumaraswamy reportedly pointedly asked Gundurao why Tumakuru Congress MP, Muddahanume Gowda was backtracking on his earlier promise that he had no issues if Mr Gowda himself contested from Tumakuru.  It was only after  this assurance that  the Janata Dal (Secular) zeroed in on that seat for the party supremo.

Although, Gundurao explained to him  the steps taken to check the rebellion,  Kumaraswamy was reportedly not  convinced with the explanation, the source claimed.