Cong moves to placate Siddaramaiah, AICC gen secys rush to Ktk

The Congress High Command rushed two AICC general secretaries B K Hariprasad and Madhusudan Mistri, who is in-charge of the state, to resolve the crisis which has given a major jolt to the party that was hoping for revival of its fortunes in the state ruled by the faction-ridden BJP.

"It's not rebellion but some unhappiness... That is being dealt with," party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary said. She said that discussions are taking place and the matter is being handled by the party high command.

Hariprasad, who hails from the state, was a former Rajya Sabha MP. Senior party leader and another general secretary Oscar Fernandes also had a telephonic talk with the sulking leader, who is considered the biggest backward caste face of the party in Karnataka.

A friend-turned-foe of former Prime Minister H D Devegowda, Siddaramaiah hails from Kurba caste, which is spread across the state and accounts for around 12 per cent of total population in Karnataka. Sidharamaiah was a Deputy Chief Minister in the JD-S government.

"It's an on-going development. It will be presumptious to comment on such things till the discussions are going on," Chowdhary said when asked whether the demand of the leader would be conceded.

Siddaramaiah, who is upset over his loyalist former Union Minister C M Ibrahim being denied nomination, said in Bangalore that he has already shot off his resignation letter to party President Sonia Gandhi and state party chief G Parameshwar.

The incident has played out at a time when Rahul Gandhi is in the state on a two-day visit.