Amid discontent, Congress high command to meet Karnataka leaders in Delhi on Wednesday

The meeting was initially scheduled to be held when the 26-party Opposition grouping Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) met in Bengaluru on July 18. However, due to the demise of former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy that day, the meeting of newly appointed ministers was postponed, he said.

The conference in Delhi is significant considering the stormy CLP meeting held last week. Many MLAs had raised grievances over the lack of funds for development works, apart from complaints that some ministers were not accessible even to MLAs. Prior to the meeting, a letter written by MLA B R Patil and signed by ten other legislators had also done the rounds, embarrassing the Siddaramaiah-led state government.

These issues are also expected to be discussed in Delhi apart from demands from some seniors such as MLC B K Hariprasad, who is to be inducted into the Cabinet. According to sources, though Hariprasad’s induction may not happen soon, he will likely be appointed as a KPCC working president. The state unit currently has five working presidents.

The Karnataka leadership is also looking to the party high command to drive home the message of the financial crunch faced by the state due to the implementation of the government’s five poll guarantees. As many as 40 state leaders are expected to be part of the meetings on Wednesday.