Discontent simmers in Congress against state leadership

: Discontent within the Congress in Karnataka has come to the fore again, with several party legislators holding a separate meeting during the ongoing winter session of legislature here, to express their dismay against the party leadership in the state.

The legislators, mostly the party's old guard, are also scheduled to meet Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge soon, party sources said.

During the meeting a few days ago, the legislators, mostly ministerial aspirants, expressed discontent over the delay and lack of clarity on cabinet expansion, and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah's style of functioning, they said.

According to reports, about eight to 10 party legislators were part of the meeting, including senior MLAs Roshan Baig, Ramalinga Reddy and MTB Nagraj, among others.

At least two legislators have confirmed about such a meeting taking place in Belagavi during the initial days of the session that began on Monday.

"Yes, we had a meeting...we are unhappy with the way a few people are handling the entire thing and the way the CLP leader is behaving," an MLA said on grounds of anonymity.

Expressing strong reservation about Siddaramaiah's absence from the session, he said "we met and shared our disappointment and decided to take up the issue with the high command at appropriate time."