Former home minister Ramalinga REddy’s critical statement on Tuesday blaming the COngress leadership for ignoring senior leaders, has once again brought to the fore the original congmen vs outsider debate in the party.
Mr Reddy had even warned that Congress leaders may have to find their own way if the injustice was not addressed. The seven-time MLA, is annoyed over the manner in which party leaders are handling senior legislators who have dedicated themselves to building the party with or without power all these years. Before lambasting state leaders, Mr Reddy is learnt to have met KPCC President Dinesh Gundurao at the party office to pour out his woes.
Sources said Mr Gundurao was criticised for giving preference to newcomers by inducting them into the Cabinet and giving them responsibilities during the Lok Sabha elections with extra attention being paid to Chamarajpet MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan, who was brought into the Congress last year just a few days before the 2018 Assembly elections, at the behest of then CM Siddaramaiah.
Sources said Mr Reddy warned Mr Gundurao that he had to re-think on remaining in the Congress if the services of seniors were not considered.
Mr Reddy has never vent his anger in public against the party and his connect with the local populace had helped the Congress stitch an alliance with JD(S) to prevent BJP-the single largest party, from taking control of BBMP.
Reddy is also not happy with Dr G Parameshwar who got the Bengaluru City Development portfolio, by sidelining K.J. George.
His grouse: why should Dr Parameshwar who belongs to Koratagere in Tumakuru district and has not evinced much interest in city development or in contacting local Congress legislators during his city rounds, be given the prized portfolio?
—S.S. VATTAM
