Mangaluru(TOI) : Taking umbrage to sacking of Vinay Kumar Sorake from the Siddaramaiah cabinet and not giving representation to Billava community in ministerial reshuffle, the Rashtriya Billavara Mahamandal has warned the Congress that it will pay dearly for this slight to dominant community. The organization wondering if there is a conspiracy in play to ensure a 'Billava Muktha Congress' reminded the party that the community has always stood steadfastly behind the Congress.

Harikrishna Bantwal, spokesperson of the Mahamandal told reporters here on Tuesday that if the CM felt that Vinay Kumar Sorake was not good enough, he had a choice of other senior MLAs from Billava community including Vasanth Bangera from Belthangady and Gopal Poojary from Baindoor, who could be included in the cabinet. Both Vasanth Bangera and Gopal Poojary are senior MLAs and are capable to become ministers in their own individual right, he said.

Noting that Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes had assured Sorake that he would remain unaffected in the reshuffle, Harikrishna said the MP virtually left the Kaup MLA high and dry asking him to contact the high command when Siddaramaiah went on to drop him. "It is leaders such as Oscar who are damaging party's interest and efforts are on to sideline a senior Billava leader Janardhan Poojary, who ideally should have been party's choice for RS polls," he added.

Accusing the Congress of 'using and throwing' the community for narrow political gains, he said a party that prides on its secular credentials denying social justice to the community is an affront to democracy. Billavas are self-reliant community, he said adding any party that ignores its interest cannot hope to get its support in the future. Asked if this meant that the community will support the BJP, he said the mahamandala will take a call on this at an appropriate time.