DyCM asks party MPs to do firefighting

Deputy chief minister and KPCC president G Parameshwara on Sunday sought the help of his party MPs to pacify the disgruntled MLAs, who have raised a banner of revolt following their non-induction into the H D Kumaraswamy Cabinet.

Parameshwara, who held a meeting with 11 Congress MPs, is learnt to have told them the very survival of the coalition government depended upon the unity in both the JD(S) and Congress camps.

Sources said Parameshwara told the MPs that the party was willing to give key posts to those MLAs who have not been made ministers.

“It is imperative that the coalition government completes its term. The BJP is waiting to take full advantage of the rebellion. Hence, speak to MLAs from your constituencies and try and pacify them,” he is learnt to have told the MPs.

Later, speaking to the media, Parameshwara said that the leaders had discussed various issues including the infighting, present political developments and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

He also said that several senior Congress leaders including himself and Siddaramaiah had tried to hold talks with the sulking MLAs. “We have also told them about the party’s decisions. The MPs too have been making attempts to pacify the MLAs. All efforts are on to quell the dissidence,” he added.

Four MPs including Mallikarjun Kharge, Muddahanumegowda, Chandrappa and Dhruvanarayana were not present in the meeting.