Mysuru, DHNS: Party ready to face Nanjangud by-election, says Siddaramaiah. A host of Congress leaders led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah trained guns on former minister V?Srinivas Prasad, who recently resigned as MLA, at the party’s convention at Nanjangud in the district on Sunday.

Addressing the gathering, Siddaramaiah said the convention has been organised not to take revenge against anybody but to strengthen the party in the Nanjangud Assembly constituency. Prasad, who represented the Nanjangud constituency (reserved for the SCs), recently resigned as MLA as he was angry over being dropped from the Siddaramaiah ministry.

Reacting to Prasad’s allegations, Siddaramaiah said he is not anti-Dalit?and has earmarked Rs 19,500 crore for the welfare of the community. No other state in the country has spent such a huge amount on the welfare of the deprived classes, he added.

“Prasad enjoyed power only because of me?and KPCC president G Parameshwara. We had given him an important portfolio in the Cabinet even though the high command had not recommended a ministerial berth for him,” Siddaramaiah said. The chief minister said that he had informed Prasad in advance that he would be dropped from the Cabinet, but he did not respond.

“He is targeting me and spreading rumours. I have won the Assembly elections for five times because of the people’s support and not because of Prasad.” The Congress is ready to face by-election and the convention is to strengthen the party, he said.

Parameshwara said the Congress government has spent Rs 1,450 crore for various development works in Prasad’s constituency and the people are aware of it.

“Prasad’s resignation will not affect the party,” he added. Though Prasad had health issues, the Congress leaders had convinced the high command and made him a minister. But, how many districts did Prasad tour during his tenure as revenue minister, he questioned. Siddaramaiah has removed 14 ministers from the Cabinet but, none of them have quit the party, he said.

Public Works Minister H C Mahadevappa said Prasad had abused the chief minister in the singular, which is an insult to the post. KPCC Working President Dinesh Gundu Rao also addressed the gathering.

It is learnt that Prasad is also organising a convention in Nanjangud later this month or in November to show his show strength to the Congress and his opponents.