Mysuru: Accusing former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of thwarting senior NR MLA Tanveer Sait’s entry to the State Cabinet, former MLC A.H. Vishwanath alleged that Siddaramaiah  has done so because he believes that the induction of Sait would pose a challenge for his Minister son Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah’s Mysuru District in-Charge responsibility.

Addressing a press meet at Jaladarshini Guest House here this morning, Vishwanath, who is also a former Minister, praised the administration of D.K. Shivakumar after he took over as the Chief Minister two months ago.

“The Congress High Command seems to have made the right decisions in the Cabinet expansion. But it is not correct to leave out Tanveer Sait, who is a senior Congress Legislator having got elected for six consecutive terms. Former CM Siddaramaiah also prevented the swearing-in of  MLC Gayathri Shanthegowda of Chikkamagalur, who belongs to Kuruba community, at the last minute for his own personal interests. Siddaramaiah wanted another MLC Umashree to be in the Cabinet. But Umashree had already served as a Minister in the previous Siddaramaiah Ministry and as such, the Congress should now induct Gayathri, a new face,” he urged.

Horatti must quit

Commenting on Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti’s refusal to quit over loss of majority, he said, Horatti should quit as ruling Congress has majority in Upper House as well. Though Horatti is an 8-time MLC, it is better that he quit on his own, as Congress wants its own candidate to head the Council.

Contending that the ‘Karnataka Bandh’ call given by several Kannada organisations over Cauvery water issue was not correct, he urged Kannada Chaluvali leader Vatal Nagaraj to withdraw the ‘Karnataka Bandh’ on Aug. 13.

Observing that  dialogues are key for resolving Cauvery water sharing dispute between Karnataka & TN, he said that the stipulation of a meeting between the CMs of the two States was right. But unfortunately, the meeting did not happen due to the situation that prevailed in the State, he said and hoped that the two CMs would soon meet to resolve the long standing dispute.