No one is above party: Dinesh Gundurao on dissent

Bengaluru: In an oblique reference to rising discontent in the party over cabinet expansion, KPCC president Dinesh Gundurao on Monday said Congress president Rahul Gandhi's decision is final in such matters adding that even in Rajasthan, many seniors who in the past had tried to put their interests before that of the party, had been kept away from the cabinet.

Speaking to reporters here, Mr Rao said, "I am just explaining how our party has been functioning under Mr Gandhi of late. We need not draw any other inference from this."

However, many party leaders felt Mr Rao’s statement was more of a veiled warning to party veteran, R. Ramalinga Reddy who has raised the banner of revolt over being left out of the cabinet.

The KPCC chief made it clear that if anybody in the future does anything against the interest of the party, it will be taken very seriously. “Nobody is above the party, anybody, whether a panchayat member, MLA or minister, works against the interests of the party in future, we are going to take it very, very seriously," he asserted.

Mr Rao also said he wanted to send a message to all people out there that “some big leaders may try to misuse you (workers). Don't fall into the trap because ultimately, they will get away and you (workers) will fall into the trap.” He said every cabinet expansion and reshuffle would have some kind of  repercussion. "For a few days, there will be some emotional reactions but I'm sure  that everything will be resolved. We have done this cabinet expansion and reshuffle with a lot of thought. North Karnataka had to be compensated  because during the first ministry formation exercise, there were fewer ministers from the region. Today we have done justice to North Karnataka," he rationalised. Pointing out that the party had also ensured social justice during the rejig, Mr Rao claimed that some seniors had been left out because of permutations and combinations. "I think we have done a very good exercise. Every cabinet expansion will have inconsistencies," he elaborated. Ruling out the possibility of disgruntled MLAs quitting the party, he claimed

"We are all together, there will no damage to the coalition government which is very stable." The KPCC chief also said he will speak to dissident Ramesh Jarkiholi and others. “We will reach out to them, I'm sure that they will come along." His warning came even as several party legislators, including Ramalinga Reddy, B.C. Patil, B.K. Sangamesh and Bheema Naik, came out openly against the party following the cabinet rejig on Saturday. Meanwhile, based on the recommendations of the party's disciplinary committee, the KPCC on Monday expelled nine district and taluk panchayat level leaders for anti-party  activities during the assembly, council and local body polls.