Ex-chairman of KEA to join BJP, accuses CM of high-handedness

Former chairman of the Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) and Congress leader R Raghu said, he has resigned from the primary membership of the Congress party and has decided to join the BJP.

He accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of sabotaging the prospectus of dedicated party workers in the Congress.

Addressing a press conference, here, on Thursday, he said, individuals in the Congress party have grown over the party and dedicated party workers do not have any future. “The Congress too is suffering in the hands of a few individuals. Ahinda — the union of minorities (alpasankyatharu), backward classes (hindulidavaru) and Dalits, floated by Siddaramaiah and other leaders — has now become ‘Swahinda’, to fulfill the selfish motives of a few leaders,” he said.

Raghu said, Congress has become Congress Private Limited in Mysuru district, a leader-affiliated party. “Only the supporters of Siddaramaiah are getting opportunities in the party. I am not an aspirant for any government nomination or appointment. I am already a beneficiary. I have served the State as the chairman of the KEA and worked for the party in the capacity of KPCC member. Now, the party is neglecting leaders like us. Ahinda is just a gimmick to garner votes. Its leaders do not have any concern for the suppressed classes. It is not a secret that KPCC president G Parameshwar was not defeated, but was made to lose the election due to a conspiracy,” he said.

Expressing his displeasure over the Congress high command, he said, the high command should be held responsible for the sorry state of affairs of the party in the state. “The high command has become inactive. It does not have any contact with the party workers in the grassroots level,” he said.

He said, he was in touch with the BJP leaders and would join the party anytime.