Watchgate: Siddaramaiah, Dr G Parameshwar summoned

BENGALURU: Having taken cognisance of the luxe watch controversy involving Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, senior central leaders of the party have reportedly summoned both Mr Siddaramaiah and KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar to New Delhi for a discussion in the second week of March.  Speculation was rife after a senior leader disclosed to a section of the media that Mr Siddaramaiah and Dr Parameshwar were closeted for more than 30 minutes just before commencement of the legislature session on Monday to discuss their strategy on the row.

Speaking to DC, a highly placed source disclosed that top leaders expressed serious displeasure over the controversy. “A large section of top Congress leaders in the state as well as in Delhi feel that Mr Siddaramaiah should blame himself for allowing the controversy to go out of hand. The moment JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy made allegations against him, he should have waited for a day or two to allow the controversy die its own death. Instead he fuelled the controversy by commenting in the most callous manner,” the source added. Mr Siddaramaiah, however, maintained that he was “not going anywhere” in view of the budget session. Meanwhile, sources revealed that a large section of leaders whom he had antagonised from the time he joined Congress had regrouped and were doing everything to embarrass Mr Siddaramaiah.  “This has become a headache for Mr Siddaramaiah. Central leaders who had sided with him because of his ‘mass leader image’ too have started deserting him,” the source added.