Bengaluru: After the intervention of Congress legislature party(CLP) leader, Siddaramaiah, powerful leaders who were left out of the cabinet like former minister, R. Ramalinga Reddy seem to have decided to bury the hatchet till the Lok Sabha elections.
These disgruntled leaders with the exception of Belagavi strongman, Ramesh Jarkiholi who remains stubborn following his exit from the cabinet, seem to have decided to adopt a wait and watch policy till the elections.
This became evident when Mr Reddy spoke to the media after his meetings with Mr Siddarmaiah and subsequently with KPCC president, Dinesh Gundurao at Cauvery, where Mr Siddaramaiah resides.
Mr Reddy who is cut up with Deputy Chief Minister, Dr G. Parameshwar for trying to reduce his sphere of influence in Bengaluru politics, said the Congress will be facing Lok Sabha elections under four leaders - Former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, CM H.D. Kumaraswamy, CLP leader, Siddaramaiah and KPCC president, Dinesh Gundurao - hence, all these leaders will make efforts to win more seats in the elections. "I being a hardcore Congressman, I want my party leader to be the country's next PM. For this, I will work with these leaders hand-in-hand," he declared.
He added that he was "upset" not because he was denied a post but because the party was facing "some" shortcomings which needed to be tackled properly. "I cannot reveal what these shortcomings are at this juncture. There is still a long way to go. As a party leader, I must throw light on these shortcomings at an appropriate forum, which I have done," he said cryptically without elaborating on it.
He further added that he was 100 per cent satisfied with the outcome of the meeting with Mr Siddarmaiah. "It is a known fact that the Congress has entered into a coalition arrangement, as a result of this, we gain some and lose some. In this game, I may have been left out, but it is also equally true that I was not after any post," he said.
In response to a question on the resignation threat by corporators from his Assembly segment and BJP leaders contacting him, Mr Reddy said, "I have asked my corporators not to resign as it will send the wrong signal. With regard to a BJP leader getting in touch with me, it was not to persuade me to join the BJP. Yelahanka MLA S.R. Vishwanath met me to invite me for his son’s marriage. He is my relative."
