Congress will take rebels to task in Karnataka

Dissension within its ranks when the party is preparing to launch a state-wide offensive against the government is causing worry for the Congress.

The absence of many MLAs, including BC Patil, who has said he will join the NCP soon, at the Congress general body meeting on Saturday has put the party on a quandary.

AICC general-secretary in-charge of Karnataka, V Hanumanth Rao, on Sunday said the MLAs would be asked to explain why they did not attend the meeting. However, he rejected any unilateral disciplinary action against the rebels.

“The meeting was attended by almost all leaders, except a few. Those who did not turn up will have to explain,” he said.

The Congress is ready to face the assembly elections, which may happen any time as the BJP is beset with internal strife. State leaders have been asked to tour all constituencies to prepare party workers for polls. The party would take up the issues of corruption in BJP government, neglect of development work and failure to utilise the central funds for development, Rao said.

He denied corruption had tarnished the reputation of the UPA government at the Centre. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and AICC general-secretary Rahul Gandhi have a commitment to provide clean governance, he added.

Rao cited the developments in Andhra Pradesh, where the CBI is probing against several IAS officers in connection with illegal mining and other cases.

Many IAS officers have even raised their voice against the probe. But the government is committed to fight corruption, he said.