Congress leader says party workers not happy with JD(S) alliance

Despite efforts put in by both Congress and JD(S) leaders to keep their pack together, the Congress party seems to be facing rebellion from its own. Former Karnataka minister A Manju has once again trained his guns on the JD(S) leaving his party in a spot of bother.

A Manju on October 22 said, "Traditionally, I am a political opponent of HD Deve Gowda's family. I've always opposed our alliance with JD(S) and will continue to do so. All these years we've been opposing and competing with them, now suddenly how can we support them? I've made my stand to the party high command. This is not my personal stand. I am just voicing the general distress faced by others in the party."

Manju's comments has opened a can of worms within the Cong-JD(S) camp. Recently in the run up to the by-polls, Congress party workers in some constituencies like Ramanagara were disgruntled as the party decided not to field candidates and instead support the JD(S). Some party workers seem to be of the view that Congress is losing more in the bargain with its alliance partner.

READ | Congress Minister A. Manju Accuses Karnataka CM's Brother HD Revanna Over Land Grab Charges, Threatens To Move Court

When chief minister HD Kumaraswamy was questioned on A Manju's statement this is what he said, "It's his personal view, I don't want to comment about it." The comment has however not gone down well with many in the JD(S) party as well. 

A Manju's comments has in fact given more ammunution to the BJP to attack the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka. " He's expressing the ground reality. In many constituencies Congress leaders have compromised and this has affected their ground workers. In the coming days if the alliance continues then they will loose their cadres to either BJP or JD(S)."

This is not the first time that A Manju has lashed out against the JD(S). Earlier as well Manju had conducted press conferences and alleged Karnataka Pwd minister HD Revanna's son Prajwal Revanna of land grabbing.

Inronically, just a few days ago Former PM HD Deve Gowda, Former CM Siddaramaiah, CM HD Kumaraswamy, Dy CM G Parameshwara and KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao shared stage and addressed a joint press conference. Going by the recent turn of events, its unfortunate that the grandstanding by both the party's has not impressed its own cadres.

READ | Karnataka Minister Slams BJP, Congress And JD(S), Says They'll Exist Till Inequality Does