Cong gen secys rush to K'taka to placate Siddaramaiah

New Delhi, Jun 2: A shocked Congress began a damage control exercise following the resignation of

leader

as the Leader of Opposition in the state after denial of the legislative council nomination to one of his loyalists.

The Congress High Command has rushed two AICC general secretaries BK Hariprasad and Madhusudan Mistri, who is in-charge of the state, to resolve the crisis which has given a major jolt to the party that was hoping for revival of its fortunes in the state ruled by the faction-ridden BJP.

"It's not rebellion but some unhappiness... that is being dealt with," party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary said. She said that discussions are taking place and the matter is being handled by the party high command.

Hariprasad, who hails from the state, was a former Rajya Sabha MP, Senior party leader and another general secretary Oscar Fernandes also had a telephonic talk with the sulking leader, who is considered the biggest backward caste face of the party in Karnataka.

A friend-turned-foe of former Prime Minister HD Devegowda, Siddaramaiah hails from Kurba caste, which is spread across the state and accounts for around 12 per cent of total population in Karnataka. Sidharamaiah was a Deputy Chief Minister in the JD-S government.

"It's an on-going development. It will be presumptuous to comment on such things till the discussions are going on," Chowdhary said when asked whether the demand of the leader would be conceded.

Siddaramaiah, who is upset over his loyalist former Union Minister CM Ibrahim being denied nomination, said in Bangalore that he has already shot off his resignation letter to party President Sonia Gandhi and state party chief G Parameshwar.

The incident has played out at a time when Rahul Gandhi is in the state on a two-day visit.

PTI