Hassan: Some Congress leaders in Hassan district raised slogans against district minister KM Shivalingegowda in the presence of chief minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday.
The CM arrived by helicopter from Bengaluru and landed at Bhuvanahalli airport to participate in various programmes. During his visit, disgruntled Congress leaders openly expressed their anger against the minister.
Former minister B Shivaram (Belur), MA Gopalaswamy (Channarayapatna), Banavase Rangaswamy (Hassan) and Murali Mohan (Sakleshpur), who all contested unsuccessfully in the assembly polls in 2023, were among those who raised slogans against Shivalingegowda in the CM’s presence.
But Shivalingegowda, who joined the Congress from the JD(S), is now trying to dominate us,” he said, and asked: “We have lost the elections, but should we not at least be invited out of courtesy?” They alleged that they were not informed about the chief minister’s visit and were not being taken into confidence by the minister. They accused Shivalingegowda of neglecting party organisation and failing to convene a meeting to discuss the problems of party leaders and workers since becoming a minister. They also confronted those who tried to pacify them. Shivaram clarified that they had no objections to the CM and that their anger was directed entirely against Shivalingegowda. He alleged that the minister and the DC were running the administration in Hassan district without consulting senior Congress leaders. “We are the ones who mobilise people whenever the CM visits Hassan. We have built and strengthened the party in the district.