Group of 6 running Karnataka Congress, bribing high command: Rebel MLA

Bengaluru: Oct 18: Former minister V?Srinivas Prasad has charged that a group of six “ill-intentioned people” is running the state government and controlling the party. The six -- Digvijay Singh, Siddaramaiah, Mallikarjun Kharge, G Parameshwara, K?J?George and D?K?Shivakumar -- are regularly bribing the party high command, he said.

At?a press conference after submitting his handwritten resignation as MLA to Speaker K?B?Koliwad on Monday, he said he told the Speaker he was quitting because people in his constituency were not happy with the way Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was running the government.

Prasad, who said he would sever ties with the Congress, added that he would be cautious while deciding his future course of action. He said he has offers from both the JD(S)?and the BJP. He ducked a question on whether he would contest elections. The election commission would have to hold a by-election to the Nanjangud (reserved for SC) constituency in the next six months following his resignation.

Prasad said the six-member group had the final say in the state Cabinet reconstitution. Party leaders and workers are aware how much apayment seat' in the Cabinet costs, he added.

Recalling how he had helped Siddaramaiah win from the Varuna constituency, Prasad said Siddaramaiah, after joining the Congress, had contested the Assembly by-election. He had realised that his poll prospects were bleak. “He had sent Kharge, Kagodu Thimmappa and Dharam Singh to my house. They said Dalits were not supporting the Congress. These leaders, as well as Siddaramaiah, pleaded for my support. How come these leaders have forgotten my help while removing me from the Cabinet without even letting me know?” he said.