Mandya seat for JD(S): Dinesh Gundurao fails to mollify irate Congress netas

Bengaluru: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committe President Dinesh Gundurao’s efforts to mollify Congress leaders of Mandya, who are upset with their party bosses for handing over the constituency to the Janata Dal (Secular) in the November 3 bypoll, does not seem to have paid off.

Calling the Saturday meeting disappointing, , a Congress leader from the district said it only succeeded in thrusting the party’s decision down the throats of the locals.

“There was no scope for anyone to air their grievances. There was only a one -line message for them to follow. It was disappointing,” he said.

Regretting that the party high command did not bother to take local leaders into confidence on the issue of candidates for the bypoll, he said those who tried to speak against supporting the Janata Dal (Secular) were gagged and told to follow the party diktat.

“Such a dictatorial attitude will not last very long as they need the support of local leaders and party workers in the coming elections. The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committe may direct leaders to campaign for the JD(S) nominee, but can it talk like this to party workers who are the backbone of the Congress party? Today if we gift this seat to the Janata Dal (Secular), it will be difficult to get it back in future. The people are closely watching these developments and will teach the coalition partners a lesson,” he asserted, warning that an exodus of senior Congress leaders to the lotus party could not be ruled out if the party stucks to its mantra of pre-poll alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular).