Bengaluru: AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal, who is on a mission to get the state Congress unit in shape for the 2018 Assembly polls, gave labour minister Santosh Lad a dressing-down on Tuesday following reports from Ballari Congress leaders that he was meddling in matters pertaining to their constituencies.
Sources said Mr Venugopal, who recently took over as the in-charge of the state Congress, directed Mr Lad to learn to lead his team by example. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader from Ballari on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that a whole lot of leaders from Ballari were pissed off over the manner in which Mr Lad has been handling affairs pertaining to the district. “His brother and mining baron, Anil Lad was the first to level charges at him claiming that Santhosh was interfering in constituency related work too much. He wanted the party leadership to relieve Santhosh from the responsibility of Ballari district in-charge minister claiming that if the minister continued with his meddling ways, no leader would be able to ensure the party’s victory in Ballari,” the source explained.
Apart from this, leaders like K.C. Kondaiah, Diwakar Babu, N.Y. Goplakrishna, Tukaram and P.T. Parameshwar too reportedly backed Anil Lad while making several charges against Santhosh. "He is from Dharwad district, why should a leader from there meddle in our constituency affairs? Soon after he took over as Ballari district in-charge minister, he started his vindictive style of politics.
He has sidelined our requests to carry out development work in our constituencies at the cost of our rivals. He is helping our enemies grow than help us complete our projects,” the source said quoting several leaders.
A visibly angry Mr Venugopal reportedly took Mr Santhosh to task asked him why he was being vindictive against his party leaders?
“The district in-charge minister, whoever he is, must lead by example by resolving crises to enable the party's growth. Instead, if the leader who is supposed to lead, starts dividing the party, he can neither remain a leader nor become one in the long run,” the source said quoting Mr Venugopal.
The district leaders, according to the source, further complained that the co- ordination committee for their district has not been formed yet.
“Mr Venugopal directed Mr Santhosh to come up with detailed plans on how he will ensure the party's victory in the district in the 2018 polls and also asked him to take the initiative to form the co-ordination committee immediately,” the source claimed.
