Those allocating berths should quell dissent: Kharge

Those who allocated ministerial berths themselves should pacify resentment that has started post-Cabinet rejig, Congress Leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge said on Sunday.

He said coordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah, Congress general secretary incharge of party affairs in Karnataka K C Venugopal and KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao took decisions on reshuffling the Cabinet. Hence, they themselves should curb the disgruntlement, Kharge told media persons here. “I tried hard to get an additional ministerial berth for Kalaburagi district, but my efforts failed at the last minute. I am pained over this”.

They said the Cabinet had been expanded after getting the nod from the high command. All should obey the decision taken by the high command, he said.

Jewargi MLA Ajay Singh has been made Karnataka’s special representative in New Delhi after he exerted pressure on the high command, Kharge said.

Kharge sustained minor injuries to his waist and a toe after he slipped and fell down in the bathroom at his residence here on Sunday morning.

On hearing his screams, his gunman and personal assistant ran to the bathroom and helped Kharge to stand up. He was later administered first aid.