Cong Vs Cong in Karnataka: MLA Slams Minister, Demands Action From High Command

Bengaluru: Congress MLAs are a disgruntled lot with their ministers and in the latest, KPCC Working President Vinay Kulkarni has expressed his displeasure over minister Byrathi Suresh at the KPCC meet openly, which has again caused a massive embarrassment to the party yet again as it is facing a power tussle for the post of Chief Minister in Karnataka.

He was also of the opinion that this was an example of how the Congress had failed organisationally by not heeding the words of party workers and MLAs. The opinion among the Congress leaders is that the condition of the MLAs is grim. The CM has also warned that there would be an issue in the future if the Deputy CM did not resolve the issue immediately.

A senior Congress leader speaking to Republic on the condition of anonymity said, “We will not tolerate the mismanagement going on in boards and corporations or our board. The system there is not good. There has been misgovernance, where there is no right to inspect. We have seen the Valmiki Corporation Development scam. We don't want a worse system than that.”

Vinay Kulkarni has also gone to New Delhi and told the party leaders about repeated interference by the minister and has challenged that all companies should be investigated and those companies, which have committed scams should be blacklisted.

Sources in the know of the development have informed Republic that companies not preferred by the ministers are blacklisted and companies close to chairmen are being granted tenders.

Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni speaking to Republic said, “I will speak when the time comes. I have brought this to the notice of the CM several times. We will not tolerate such a thing. He (Byrathi Suresh) is a minister and has not come from above. If the situation arises, I will give you the record. Why should we be where there is no respect?”

The MLAs are of the opinion that they will not hesitate to resign. The Congress suffered a setback in the Lok Sabha elections too and they cannot afford to anger their MLAs because 19 ministers have suffered setbacks in their constituencies. Will the CM strike a truce between the ministers and MLAs or will things get worse needs to be seen in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the BJP also slammed the 'one-upmanship' by minister Byrathi Suresh. BJP MLC N Ravi Kumar speaking to Republic said, "The fight is out there in the open for everyone to see. The minister shouldn't interfere in boards and corporations and the chairman should be given a free hand but seems like there are camps even here and they are fighting in full public view. The people are the ones who continue to suffer under the Congress government in the state."