Errant Congressmen will face action, says Dinesh Gundurao

Bengaluru: After repeated warnings from none other than Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy over the non-cooperative attitude of Mandya Congress leaders, KPCC president Dinesh Gundurao on Monday asserted that the party will not hesitate to initiate disciplinary action against workers and leaders who to fail to abide by the Congress decision to back Nikhil Kumaraswamy in Mandya.

In spite of many attempts by leaders like Water Resources Minister, D. K. Shivakumar and Congress Legislature Party leader Siddarmaiah, they have been unable to contain the rebellion in Mandya. Even AICC general secretary, K. C. Venugopal had spoken to these disgruntled leaders but nothing seems to be working as far as the revolt is concerned.

Speaking to reporters here, Mr Rao said, “If anyone goes against the decision of the  party and does not abide by it, it will be inevitable for us to take action against them. The party workers have to function in accordance with the decision of central leaders as these leaders are striving hard for the victory of JD(S) candidates where they are contesting and vice versa.”

He added that Mandya Congress leaders cannot consider themselves as a separate entity. “If any of our leaders decides not to cooperate, it will be inevitable for us to take strict decisions,” he said.

Mr Rao claimed that CLP leader Siddaramaiah and JD(S) patriarch H. D.  Deve Gowda would jointly campaign on April 12 just a day before Congress  president Rahul Gandhi’s visit to  Mandya on April 13.

Mr Gowda was instrumental in ensuring that Mr Gandhi launched a joint campaign on  the outskirts of Bengaluru last week and now too, he seems to have succeeded to  getting Mr Gandhi on board to improve his grandson’s victory prospects in Mandya.

Congress leaders in Mandya have stayed away from campaigning with most of  them even backing independent candidate  Sumalatha Ambareesh.