Mysuru: Former MP Prathap Simha has alleged that former CM Siddaramaiah and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge deliberately weakened the political leadership in their respective regions to promote their sons.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru yesterday, Simha alleged that Kharge sidelined several leaders in the Kalaburagi region to promote his son Priyank Kharge, now Home Minister, while Siddaramaiah ignored several loyal Congress leaders from the Mysuru region to pave the way for his son, Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah, to become the Urban Development Minister.

“Siddaramaiah and Kharge’s political selfishness is well known across Karnataka. To push his son forward, Siddaramaiah denied Ministerial positions to seasoned leaders,” he said.

Simha said, six-time MLA Tanveer Sait, a respectable political leader from Mysuru, was sidelined, while former Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, who had stood by Siddaramaiah through the ups and downs of his political career, was ignored. He also alleged that K. Venkatesh, another close associate of Siddaramaiah, was pushed aside.

“All this was done so that Dr. Yathindra, a political novice, could wear the crown,” he said.

Accusing Siddaramaiah of losing moral ground to speak against family politics, Simha said, “He has ended the careers of his friends for his son’s rise, while preaching against family politics. He has even acquired 14 sites illegally from MUDA, yet speaks of moral values and corruption.”

Simha also criticised the lack of women representation in the Cabinet and alleged that Siddaramaiah had denied Ministerial berths to Lakshmi Hebbalkar and Gayatri Shanthegoudar. “Such selfish politics has polluted the system, yet he lectures about purity in politics,” he remarked.

On Dr. Yathindra’s appointment as Minister, Simha said, it was not based on merit but on his father’s influence. “Yathindra did not become a Minister on merit. He is a Minister only because of his father’s influence. Siddaramaiah knew that if Dr. Mahadevappa or Venkatesh were given portfolios, his son could not emerge as a leader in this region. So he effectively suppressed their voices,” he alleged.