JOIN USThe ruling Congress party members are angry as Zilla Panchayat president P N Keshav Reddy has not yet resigned from his post in line with a decision taken at a meeting held under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru in July.
Reddy should have resigned from his post by November-end. The Congress members had boycotted the general meetings of the Zilla Panchayat in February, March and April charging that Reddy is taking unilateral decisions by not taking the members into confidence. Then, 14 of the total 21 members had insisted on Reddy's resignation.
A meeting convened by the District In-charge Minister Ramalingareddy to sort out the differences also failed to yield any result.
Later at a meeting held at KPCC office in Bengaluru, the chief minister had convinced the members saying that Reddy will resign from his post by November-end, a source in the party said. But the fact that Reddy has not resigned yet has angered the members again. This has led to dissidence in the party.
A member, who did not want to be named, said the the rebel members have decided to convene a meeting on Tuesday to attract the attention of the party leaders. The meeting will also take a decision on the next course of action if Reddy does not resign, he added.
He said they will exert pressure on KPCC president to suspend Reddy from the pary, if does not agree to step down. No development works have been implemented in the last one-and-a-half years due to the dictatorial attitude of Reddy, he charged.
He said Reddy has convened a general meeting of the Zilla Panchayat on December 7. "We will participate in the meeting only if he agrees to step down from his post. If not, we have several options. We will take a decision after discussing the issue with our leaders. The change of guard is our firm demand," he added.
Shivanna, who represents Oolawadi in Chintamani taluk, said, "Reddy should have resigned in November-end. But he has not done so yet. It is true that the members are dissatisfied. But we are committed to the stand taken by our leaders."
DH News Service