K’taka Cong MLA hits out at state leaders, gets notice

BENGALURU: The Congress on Tuesday issued a show-cause notice to Karnataka lawmaker, R Roshan Baig, hours after he attacked its state leadership before the media, for the “poor show” that exit polls have indicated for the party in the Lok Sabha elections.

Baig said he would be unsurprised if the exit poll predictions turned out to be accurate while asking Muslims to stop “behaving like a voting bloc” and support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) if needed.

“Even if the BJP wins 18 seats [out of 28] in the state, is it not a slap on the face of the party that it could not do anything despite being in an alliance [with Janata Dal (Secular)]? For this flop show, I hold [Karnataka] president of the party [Dinesh Gundu Rao] responsible,” said Baig.

Congress general secretary, KC Venugopal was in Bengaluru on Tuesday to hold discussions with chief minister HD Kumaraswamy of the JD (S) and senior Congress leaders about the likely outcome of the Lok Sabha polls.

“We will take action at our own convenience. Definitely it will be discussed with Venugopal,” Gundu Rao said.

State Congress general secretary, VY Ghorpade, issued the notice to Baig asking him why disciplinary action should not be initiated against him for making such statements.

“I have been directed by the PCC president to ask you to show cause within a week why disciplinary action should not be initiated for anti-party activity for making such public statements against the beliefs of the party,” the party’s letter to Baig stated.

Following this, in a series of tweets, Baig claimed that he had not said anything against the party. “I’ve received the showcause notice sent to me by the KPCC. I’m not even going to [bother] to read it because it’s clearly sent by the orders of the same people whose incompetencies were highlighted by me,” he said. Baig said the state leaders’ arrogance was immeasurable, claiming that they had “sold ministerial portfolios at exorbitant rates” even while attacking the opposition of horse trading.

“Be assured several grievances were raised by me internally before going public,” Baig said. “Leadership defines a party and I have hit out at the leaders. Unfortunately, attacks on the leadership turn into an attack on the party. There are several senior leaders, who were capable of running the party, but were sidelined.” Baig said Rao, former chief minister Siddaramaiah andvenugopal, would have to share the blame for the “poor show”.

He said it was time for the Muslims to think beyond Congress. “...the community elders should sit and discuss. How long will we be treated as a vote bank?” he said earlier in the day.

Baig also added that he was also displeased with Venugopal but had so far been unable to convey his displeasure to the party high command.

“At this moment, I only want to make my displeasure known and I have thought beyond this. Let us see what happens on May 23 [when the national election results will be declared],” Baig said when asked if he would quit the Congress.

Karnataka’s deputy chief minister, G Parameshwara, said Baig was upset because he was refused Congress ticket from Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency.