Bengaluru: Upset over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah repeatedly postponing the meeting to finalise the names for state-run boards and corporations, a section of party Congress leaders has written a letter asking party central leaders to intervene and direct Mr Siddaramaiah to finalise the list at the earliest.
This is a clear indication of anger simmering within the party against Mr Siddaramaiah, who has always been considered an outsider by party loyalists, though he has completed eight years in the Congress.
A senior leader, on condition of anonymity, told media that a section of aspirants has written a letter to party central leaders complaining that the main reason for the delay was chief minister Siddaramaiah. The letter obliquely refers to Mr Siddaramaiah as an outsider and tries to portray him as a weak leader.
“Party workers and leaders are upset with Mr Siddaramiah for delaying the exercise, though All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Digvijay Singh directed both Mr Siddramaiah and G. Parameshwar to complete the process last month itself.”
The source said, “Mr Siddaramaih is not yet accustomed to the Congress party’s culture. Had there been a loyal party leader as chief minister, he would have completed the process last month itself. Loyal Congress leaders feel that Mr Siddaramaiah is insecure.
“They say the selection of cabinet colleagues and allocation of portfolios to his coterie clearly indicates this insecurity,” the leader said.
“Mr Siddarmaiah was again planning to fill majority of plum posts in boards and corporations with his supporters, but the AICC leaders shot it down when he visited Delhi in the first week of this month,” he said.
“Mr Siddaramaiah has adopted the carrot-and-stick policy to keep the party and leaders under control.
“But any further delay in appointing members to boards and corporations by the chief minister could lead to a rebellion that could be worse than what the state experienced during the BJP rule between 2008 and 2013,” he warned.
