Dinesh Gundu Rao came down heavily on BJP leaders for seeking to exploit dissidence among the former ministers of Karnatake government.
Taking shots at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders for making attempts to woo rebel Congress leaders, the newly appointed Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Working President Dinesh Gundu Rao on Wednesday described the vain attempts of BJP leaders as a sign of opportunism and desperation.
Speaking with media persons at the KPCC office, Dinesh Gundu Rao came down heavily on BJP leaders for seeking to exploit dissidence among the former ministers who were dropped from the Cabinet. “The BJP leaders have been trying their best to demolish Congress in the country but they will not succeed in their mission. A few BJP leaders have met former minister Srinivas Prasad to invite him to join the BJP but the latter refused to follow their advice. It shows how desperate are the BJP leaders in Karnataka,’’ Dinesh Gundu Rao said.
Confident of convincing rebels
The newly appointed KPPC working president said that he was confident of convincing the Congress leaders who are not happy with the recent Cabinet reshuffle. “Senior Congress leaders are holding talks with dissident Congress leaders. It is quite natural for some Congress leaders to become rebel whenever a Cabinet reshuffle takes place. After a few days everything will be sorted out,’’ the KPCC working president said.
Reacting to Ambareesh's remarks that he was not a chappal, Rao said that he had high regard for Ambareesh who held many portfolios and positions not only in the state but also at the Centre. “Ambareesh might have used that word out of emotion. I know he is an emotional person. I am confident he will change his mind and continue in Congress,’’ he said.
'I am not a rubber stamp'
When asked about the importance of a working president's post, he said that believes in working to strengthen Congress in Karnataka and prepare Congress workers for the next Assembly elections to be held in 2018. “I am not a rubber stamp or any other stamp. I want to work hard to strengthen Congress as an ordinary Congress worker. I don’t believe in position,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, rebel Congress leaders such as Srinivas Prasad, Qamar ul Islam, ST Somasekhar, Malaka Reddy and others held a meeting in the city to chalk out their future course of action. Speaking with media persons, Srinivas Prasad said that they want to discuss the latest development on the recent Cabinet reshuffle. “We are of the opinion that recent Cabinet reshuffle is not in the interest of Congress but to meet vested interests of some leaders. We will convey our decision after holding discussions with all the leaders who want to strengthen Congress in Karnataka and not project a particular person as a leader of Congress,’’ Prasad said.
Ambareesh remains rebel
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's efforts to quell the dissidence among the former ministers who got sacked from the Cabinet received a jolt when former minister Ambareesh refused to meet his emissaries Dr HC Mahadevappa, Minister for Public Works and KJ George, Minister for Bengaluru Development. Both the ministers had to return after waiting some time at his residence.
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