Cong issues notice to MLA for controversial remarks

Cracking the whip, the Congress high command on Monday initiated action against its Karnataka MLA S T Somashekhar, whose remarks against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy have threatened the coalition government in the state.

Rushing into damage control, AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal dialled Kumaraswamy and assured him that the Congress high command had faith in his leadership and the party would take action against the errant MLA.

“Action has been initiated against Somashekhar. I have also spoken to the chief minister and told him that the Congress had full faith in him,” Venugopal told DH.

Addressing a function on Sunday, Somashekhar had hit out at lack of development works in the state in the past seven months since the JD(S)-Congress coalition assumed power and made a strong pitch for Siddaramaiah as the chief minister.

Angered over Somashekhar's remarks, Kumaraswamy threatened to quit as chief minister prompting the Congress leadership into action.

“Congress will not tolerate any such indiscipline statements and actions,” Venugopal and instructed the party's Karnataka unit to initiate action against Somashekhar.

Reaching out to Kumaraswamy, Venugopal said that the Congress High command had full faith in Karnataka government and the Chief Minister.

“The Government is moving ahead with popular and welfare measures reflecting the ambitions of the people in Karnataka,” the senior Congress leader said.

JD(S) leader Kunwar Danish Ali also said that there was no threat to the coalition government.

Ali, who also spoke to Venugopal, said the central leaders of both the Congress and the JD(S) shared an excellent relationship.