Is Cong MLA Rayareddy new pinprick of Siddaramaiah government?

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Recent developments indicate that Koppal MLA Basavaraj Rayareddy has become a pinprick for the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in the state if not a thorn in its flesh.

Recently, he reportedly invited the wrath of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah when he wrote a letter seeking convening of a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting to air a grouse against certain ministers.

It became a big embarrassment for the Congress government as the letter seeking to convene the CLP, with the signatures of over 20 legislators, was leaked to the media.

It became a hot topic of discussion in political circles in the State and an issue for the Opposition BJP to fire salvos at the Siddaramaiah government.

It is learnt that the CM took Rayareddy to task for writing the letter and asked him to talk to him directly instead of taking a route that would show the party in poor light.

Words of frustration

Rayareddy is a senior Congress leader and was expecting a berth in the Council of Ministers.

But his name was not considered by the high command and the berth was given to another MLA from Koppal district. Since then, he has been airing his grouse before the media despite gag orders issued by the high command.

He knows well that the high command will not take any disciplinary action against him given the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Recently, Rayareddy indirectly attacked Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara for his statement that the CM had admonished Rayareddy for writing the letter.

The MLA clarified that he had never apologised to anyone including the CM. Later, the home minister corrected his statement. On Wednesday, Rayareddy poured out his anger saying that those who were afraid of sitting in front of him have been made ministers.

The miffed politician is now training his guns on incumbent ministers, saying that the CM must review the performance of each minister every year and then give a chance to new faces to serve people.

This statement has not been to the liking of many ministers because the practice of assessing the work of every minister has been there in the grand old party but has never been implemented.

Another demand of Rayareddy is the convening of the CLP meeting once in three months without waiting for any letter from any MLA to discuss issues petaining to governance.

The CM is yet to react to this demand.

A senior Congress leader compared Rayareddy to Vijayapura City MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal who created embarrassment for the previous BJP governments led by BS Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai just because his seniority was overlooked while choosing ministers.