Bangalore: The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, G Parameshwara, on Friday defended his recent criticism of Siddaramaiah-led State government and claimed he had done so in the interest of the party.

“As the president of the party in the State, I sometimes have to criticise the government. But the criticism was in the interest of the party and not aimed at any individual,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the death anniversary of former?prime minister Indira Gandhi, organised at the KPCC office.

Parameshwara denied any disagreements with Siddaramaiah and said they were on good terms.

“Siddaramaiah is our leader. It has been accepted in the party. The BJP is trying to destabilise the Congress government by spreading rumours. We all have to be cautious,” he added.

Congress leader and AICC member V Shankar, in a press release, urged the party high command to consult senior party leaders like S M Krishna, Veerappa Moily, B K Hariprasad and Oscar Fernandes before finalising names for appointments to various boards and corporations of the government.

He has also welcomed the decision not to give opportunity to former MLAs and defeated candidates of the 2013 Assembly polls and said priority should be given to sincere and senior workers of the party.