Bengaluru: K.C. Venugopal to Siddaramaiah – Tackle Mandya tangle soon

Bengaluru: Two days after JD(S) supremo, H.D. Deve Gowda openly raised the issue of “non-co-operation” by Congress leaders in Mandya, where his grandson, Nikhil Kumaraswamy is making his political debut, Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K.C. Venugopal rushed to Bengaluru on Sunday to iron out the differences ahead of Congress president Rahul Gandhi's proposed joint campaign rally in Mandya tentatively scheduled for April 13.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader said that the problems in Mandya are difficult to solve as the core Congress group in the constituency is dead against Mr Kumaraswamy. “Mr Venugopal is upset with Mandya Congress leaders, who had joined the party just ahead of the 2018 Assembly polls and were once seen as close aides of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. These leaders once formed the kitchen cabinet of Mr Kumaraswamy, however, they all fell out with him between 2013-18, when Mr Kumaraswamy was in the opposition. Mr Kumaraswamy and the Mandya leaders have not let go any opportunity to embarrass each other since then. But the problem is that these leaders are staunch supporters of Congress Legislature party leader, Siddaramaiah. Hence, Mr Venugopal has directed Mr Siddarmaiah to resolve this deadlock," the source explained.

However, speaking with reporters after his meeting with party leaders in a plush hotel, Mr Venugopal denied that Mr Deve Gowda and Mr Kumaraswamy had taken up the Mandya issue with Congress president, Rahul Gandhi. "I agree that there are minor hiccups in Mandya, where the Congress has traditionally fought the JD(S) and therefore, ithe ntensity of rivalry is high when compared with other constituencies. We know, how to resolve these problems, we have done it in the past and we will do it now," he said in response to a question.

Meanwhile, CLP leader, Siddaramaiah who too was present in the meeting said that the Congress party has shown its commitment by ensuring a “smooth transition” in Tumkuru constituency and it will happen in all places where JD(S) is contesting. “Every problem has a solution, we know, how to solve it,” he declared before heading to a meeting to pacify disgruntled leaders from Mandya.

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