Under Siddaramaiah, Congress has become symbol of scams: Prasad

Bengaluru: Dropped from the cabinet unceremoniously, senior Congress leader V Srinivasa Prasad, 64, has been drawing politicians who have a bone to pick with Siddaramaiah into his fold. The Nanjangud MLA and five-time MP from Chamarajanagar said his grouse is not against Congress but chief minister Siddaramaiah who he believes will "finish off the Congress in Karnataka".Excerpts from an interview:
You have the image of a gentleman-politician. Don't you think this rebellion runs against that?
I have not revolted against the party to be seen as a rebel. In fact, my campaign is to save the party; it is not for power. My grouse is against Siddaramaiah, Mallikarjuna M Kharge and Digvijaya Singh, who have failed to work for the party. Under Siddaramaiah, the party has become a symbol of scams. Singh and Kharge are adding fuel to the fire by using their proximity to the party high command to serve their own interests. As loyal party workers, we have exposed them. It's left to senior leaders and AICC chief Sonia Gandhi to act or ignore.
Months before the reshuffle, there was talk you would be dropped from the ministry. Why didn't you take it up then?
Siddaramaiah and I shared a good rapport even before we joined Congress. I was instrumental in his victory in the Chamundeshwari assembly bypoll in 2006 when he won by 257 votes. I was surprised that a leader of such repute managed only a small margin against a candidate who had not even contested a zilla panchayat election. But I chose to back him since he was an OBC leader and went on to fulfil his dream of becoming a CM. I never expected him to do this to me. It was really shocking and painful.
Some party leaders say you were dropped on health grounds...
That's a lie. My health is far better than not just Siddaramaiah but many members in the state cabinet.
Has Siddaramaiah changed?
Siddaramaiah has fallen to all ills in politics. His double talk, double standards and hypocrisy have been exposed during his tenure as CM. How can a socialist wear a diamond-studded watch worth Rs 70 lakh? What was worse is that he defended it shamelessly. When he got tangled in the Arkavathy denotification scam, he got way by setting up a commission. By ensuring a contract to his son's diagnostic company at the government hospital, he made it known that he suffers from putra vyamoha (love for his son). All these vices have caused damage to the party.
Leaders from Hyderabad-Karnatak have held Kharge responsible for dropping you and other ministers from the region?
It's partly true. Kharge himself says he ensured certain leaders, including Veena Achaiah and KC Konadaiah, got tickets. The high command has given him a free hand in all issues pertaining to Karnataka but he has misused it to promote his son, which is unbecoming of a leader of his stature.
Will you accept a position the party offers to end the rebellion? Or would you join another party?
I would reject both. I have already announced my retirement. I am not Siddaramaiah to go back on my words on retirement. I have started writing an autobiography and I will focus on completing it at the earliest.