Bengaluru: The coalition partners may be scrambling for the numbers to save the government but a vast majority of Congress MLAs and ministers (technically they are ministers till their resignations are accepted by the governor) felt the Congress party is better in the Opposition than continuing in the coalition in the present situation.
At a meeting of the legislature party on Tuesday, the MLAs unanimously backed central and state leaders in their move to teach a lesson to the MLAs who have rebelled against the party. According to them, the mass resignation episode was a result of the excessive interference of Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy and his elder brother and Public Works Minister, H.D. Revanna in the affairs of every Congress MLA and MP in the state.
Besides this, Mr Kumaraswamy and Mr Revanna have reportedly ensured that all Congress ministers go the extra bit to get their files cleared.
This was repeatedly brought to the notice of Janata Dal (Secular) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda but he remained a mute spectator all the while expressing his 'helplessness' to control his sons. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior legislator observed that the coalition partners failed to build bridges which is why they are facing problems now.
“Both Mr Kumaraswamy and Mr Revanna interfered even in minor matters concerning the constituencies. If a MLA does not have a say in issues like transfer of a police constable, how long can he tolerate this humiliation? Forget about Congress MLAs, ask their own legislators, if they are happy with the style of functioning of the Chief Minister and his brother,” the legislator remarked. Another legislator observed that the Congress Legislature Party unanimously stood behind the party's decision to act against the rebel MLAs but also warned Mr Siddaramaiah not to be lenient as he was in the past.
