Ajay Singh not in, followers threaten suicide

Kalaburagi: Hundreds of followers of Jewargi MLA,   Dr Ajay Singh, took to the streets in Jewargi town and other places to protest  his exclusion from the state Cabinet, with some  even threatening to commit suicide if he was not accommodated.

Even as the oath taking ceremony was in progress in Bengaluru, a group of Dr. Singh’s supporters blocked the Bidar to Srirangapatna National Highway in Jewargi town and burnt tyres, disrupting the traffic for a couple of hours. Others held a demonstration in Yedrami and Sonna Cross, raising slogans against the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) leaders for denying him a Cabinet berth.

Venting their anger against the party leadership, Dr. Singh’s followers alleged that some party leaders were destroying it ahead of the LS elections by sidelining leaders, who had worked hard for its success in the recent assembly poll.

“This is a great injustice to (the late former CM) Mr. Dharam Singh, who dedicated his whole life to the party. His son, Ajay Singh,  is following in his  footsteps. By sidelining leaders like Ajay Singh and M.B. Patil, the party is digging its own grave ahead of the crucial 2019 LS elections,” warned a youth Congress leader.

Meanwhile, supporters of Mr Priyank Kharge, who were  elated over him making it to the Cabinet, took to the streets in celebration, bursting crackers and dancing. According to highly placed sources , the names of Dr Singh and Mr Priyank Kharge, were both on the list of Ministers till a day before, but only the former made it to the final list.