New Delhi:
As exit polls predicted disappointing outcome for the Congress in Karnataka, senior party leader and legislator from Shivajinagar Assembly constituency of the southern state Roshan Baig launched a scathing attack on Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Gundu Rao, former cheif minister Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi loyalist KC Venugopal.
Baig, the minister of urban development and Haj in the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in Karnataka, termed Venugopal a "buffoon" and held him, along with Siddaramaiah and Gundu Rao, responsible for the party's poor state of affairs in the southern state.
"KC Venugopal is a buffoon. I feel sorry for my leader Rahul Gandhi ji. Buffoons like Venugopal, the arrogant attitude of Siddaramaiah and the flop show of Gundu Rao. The result is this," ANI quoted Baig as saying.
The Haj minister also claimed that protfolios were sold in Karnataka and accused Siddaramaiah of not allowing Karnataka Chief Minister Kumaraswamy to funtion.
"Portfolios were sold. How can I blame Kumaraswamy for it? He wasn't allowed to function. From day 1 Siddaramaiah said 'I'm going to be CM'. You've gone to their doorstep to form govt!" he said.
The hard-hitting remarks from Baig came a day after he appealed Muslims to compromise with the situation and join hands with the BJP-led NDA if the coalition returns to power.
"Well if NDA is coming back to power, I humbly appeal to Muslim brothers to learn to compromise with the situation. If needs be, (Muslims) must join hands. We must not remain loyal to one party. What happened to Muslims in Karnataka? Congress gave just one seat," he had said.
The Congress minister in the Kumaraswamy-led coalition government said that he wasn't suprised by the exit poll predictions in Karnataka as he already knew that the Grand Old Party would not get good numbers due to its "flop poll campaigning" in the state.
