JOIN USHeartburn forced change of heart for ex-Congmen
Former MLA Narayanaswamy and Malikayya Guttedar, who figured in the list of probables to resign, have held senior leaders K H Muniyappa, Mallikarjun Kharge and Dharam Singh responsible for the recent developments.
‘Hypocrisy’
Narayanaswamy, the ex-MLA from Bangarpet in Kolar district, has cited ‘hypocrisy’ of the Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa as a reason that compelled him to quit Congress.
His grouse is that despite being a three-time legislator he was never consulted for nominations at the block level. When Narayanaswamy joined the Congress quitting the Janata Dal in 2004, Muniyappa ensured that the former should not contest on Congress ticket.
“I find no reason to stay in the Congress. I never thought I had future there”, he said.
He was also disillusioned after the Congress-JD(S) combine failed to end the BJP rule and form an alternative government. The party high command, despite being well-informed on the understanding between the Congress and the JD(S), did not help the party’s state unit to execute its plan successfully. He would not have left the party if the Congress succeeded in capturing power, he said.
However, CLP leader Siddaramaiah had termed Narayanaswamy’s statements as baseless. He said Narayanaswamy was giving lame excuses for his decision. The Congress never attempted to destablise the government and there was no understanding with the JD(S), he said.
Upset, undecided
Malikayya Guttedar, the Congress MLA from Afzalpur, found a place in the list of probables to leave the party after he had a heated argument with leaders in the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Bangalore. He told Deccan Herald that he was upset with certain developments in the party but had not made up his mind to resign. He alleged that despite being a five-time MLA, he had been ignored in the party.
Union Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, who represents Gulbarga in the Lok Sabha and MP Dharam Singh took decisions without consulting Guttedar.
He was not even consulted before appointing Gulbarga District Congress Committee president and selecting candidate for by-election to Gulbarga South. He said that the BJP has contacted him and he was yet to take a decision.