Congress rift: Top brass asks KPCC chief to clear the air

The Congress high command late on Saturday is learnt to have pulled up KPCC president G Parameshwara for staying away from last week’s swearing-in ceremony held at Raj Bhavan where three new ministers took oath.

The move is said to have prompted Parameshwara to hurriedly convene a press conference on Sunday morning to issue a statement that there were no differences between him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the selection of ministerial nominees. Besides absenting himself fromthe swearing-in event, Parameshwara had confined himself to his house for two days leading to speculation that rift in the Congress top leadership is widening.

Parameshwara is said to be cut up with Siddaramaiah for making a last-minute change to induct Geetha Mahadeva Prasad, wife of late minister H S Mahadeva Prasad into the council of ministers, instead of his choice of candidate - Tiptur MLA K Shadaskshari.

On Saturday night, sources said, Siddaramaiah was called AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal over telephone and informed him about a sulking Parameshwara. Venugopal is understood to have immediately called up Parameshwara and told him about media reports on the rift in the state Congress were damaging the image of the party.

Venugopal said that it is important that the party puts an united face ahead of the polls. Parameshwara was told to convene a press conference and clear the air, the sources added.

When contacted, Parameshwara denied that he had received a call from Venugopal. “He must have gathered the information from others,” he said. At the press meet, Parameshwara said he had not attended the swearing-in event as he had fever and was taking rest. “There is no cold or hot war between the chief minister and myself. My absence is being made a big issue,” he said.