Mysuru: Former revenue minister and senior Congress leader Mr V. Srinivasprasad continued to lambast CM Siddaramaiah alleging that he was mean, jealous and ungrateful and added that the Congress would become ‘extinct’ in the next Assembly polls if it continued with him as CM.
Speaking to mediapersons, the Dalit leader, who was dropped from the Cabinet during the recent rejig, said, “Siddaramaiah undertook the reshuffle for selfish reasons. He is luring the MLAs who are with me, by offering them money. It is not necessary for us to have people with suitcases (read money). Why did Qamarul Islam (another dropped minister) call for a bandh? And now, see how has he changed his stance,” he said.
He continued, “I contributed my bit to Siddaramaiah’s political rebirth and his becoming CM. It was I who advised him to contest from Varuna. But during the Cabinet reshuffle, I was not taken into confidence even for courtesy’s sake. I had decided that I would retire respectfully. But he has betrayed my trust.”
“I have never tried to topple the government. I know my limits. But with Siddaramaiah at the helm, the popularity of the party and government is at stake. I have written to the Congress high command not to continue with such a mean minded man. Yes it is not easy to change a CM, hence we have asked the high command to examine this in detail,” he added. Answering a question, Mr Prasad said, “I have friends across all parties, but I have not received an offer to join any party.”
