Ramesh Jarkiholi, Roshan Baig skip CLP meeting

Two former ministers who have turned rebels - Ramesh Jarkiholi and R Roshan Baig - skipped the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on Wednesday, conveying that they were still estranged and fuelling speculation that they were getting closer to the BJP.

CLP leader Siddaramaiah, however, maintained that there was no disgruntlement in the party. “Ramesh and Baig didn’t come, but they won’t quit the party,” he said.

Ramesh is widely believed to be anchoring a plan to get some disgruntled MLAs, including himself, to resign. Baig, on the other hand, has made his disgruntlement blatantly clear as he launched a tirade against party leaders and called them names.

According to Siddaramaiah, 72 out of 79 Congress legislators showed up for the CLP meet that was convened to primarily review the Lok Sabha election result. The Congress won just one seat. “Byrathi Basavaraj is unwell, Ramalinga Reddy has gone abroad, some like Rahim Khan, Rajashekhar Patil and S N Subbareddy are busy with the urban local body elections,” Siddaramaiah said.

According to sources, AICC general secretary incharge of Karnataka K C Venugopal, who also attended the CLP meet, asked legislators to explain why the Congress-JD(S) alliance suffered setbacks in their constituencies.

The CLP meet also unanimously resolved to urge Rahul Gandhi to continue as Congress president. “He can’t alone take moral responsibility. All of us are responsible. His leadership is imperative for the country. Over 12.5 crore voters have supported the Congress in the Lok Sabha election. The party has bounced back from defeats in the past,” Siddaramaiah said.