Ministry rejig fallout; KPCC chief warns against indiscipline

Bengaluru: Amid rising discontent within the party over cabinet expansion, Congress’ Karnataka president Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday, December 24 defended the exercise and warned party men against anti-party activities.

“If anybody in the future does anything against the interest of the party, then we will take it very seriously,” Rao said, as party senior leaders continued to air their unhappiness over being denied ministerial berths.

Nobody was above the party, he said, adding whether one was a panchayat member or MLA or Minister, “if anybody is working against the interest of the party in the future, we are going to take it very, very seriously.”

“I also want to send message to all people out there, some big leaders may try to misuse you, don’t fall into the trap, because ultimately they will get away and you will fall into the trap.

So we will be looking at this very closely and if any violation takes place we will not hesitate to take action,” he told reporters.

Rao’s warning came even as several party legislators, including Ramalinga Reddy, BC Patil, B K Sangamesh and Bheema Naik, came out openly against the party following the cabinet rejig on Saturday.

Also, Ramesh Jarkiholi indicated his plans to quit as party MLA, miffed with the Congress leadership over being dropped from the ministry.

Based on the recommendations of the party’s disciplinary committee, KPCC Monday expelled 9 district and taluk panchayat level leaders for anti-party activities during assembly, council and local body polls.

Rao said every cabinet expansion and reshuffle would have some kind of repercussions.

“For a few days, there will be some emotional reactions, but I’m sure that everything will be resolved,” he said.

“We have done this cabinet expansion and reshuffle with a lot of thought process. North Karnataka had to be compensated because in the first ministry formation there were fewer ministers from the region. Today we have done justice toNorth Karnataka,” he said.

Pointing out that the party had also done social justice in this rejig, Rao said some seniors had been left out because of “permutations and combinations. I think we have done a very good exercise.” 

Every cabinet expansion exercise will have “inconsistencies,” the KPCC chief said. Ruling out the possibility of disgruntled MLAs quitting the party, Rao said “We are all together and there will no damage to the coalition government which is very stable.” 

The KPCC chief said “I will speak to Ramesh Jarkiholi and others. We will reach out to them and I’m sure that they will come along.”