Bengaluru: The Kuruba strongman Siddarmaiah faced the wrath of a section of Congress workers from K. R. Pura assembly segment who charged that he was trying to finish off leaders from all other communities other than that of his own.
In an informal meeting with K. R. Pura assembly leaders that was convened by the KPCC president, Dinesh Gundurao, a section of leaders who were staunch supporters of D. K. Mohan Babu who was an aspirant for the party ticket, "gheraoed" him and alleged that Mr Siddarmaiah was conspiring to finish off the leadership in every community belonging to backward classes except for his clansmen.
Angered by this, Mr Siddarmaiah reportedly lashed back, stating that he does not owe any explanation to them as the tickets were finalised by the party central leaders and not him.
This statement of his, instead of dousing their anger caused even more of a fracas, with the agitated leaders alleging that Mr Siddaramiah was intentionally avoiding party workers and only believed in what a section of leaders close to him tell him to do. "If Mr Siddaramaiah does not change his attitude, we will all boycott the meeting," threatened the agitated leaders.
At this juncture, the KPCC president, Dinesh Gundurao intervened and pacified the workers, while Mr Siddaramaiah too reportedly apologised for his decision to field Byrathi Basavaraj from the constituency in lieu of Yadava community leader, Krishnappa in 2013. "Byrathi has cheated me and I had reposed faith in him. Now the time has come to defeat him. I need your support. Please forgive me for fielding him instead your community leader," Mr Siddamraih reportedly told workers.
