BENGALURU : The Congress party on Tuesday issued a show cause notice to R.Roshan Baig, the legislator from Shivajinagar in Bengaluru after he lashed out at the top leadership of his party over the anticipated poor outing as projected by multiple exit polls that gave the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a lead in Karnataka.

The projections, including the India Today-Axis My India exit poll that gave the BJP 21-25 seats in Karnataka, triggering the backlash by Baig who accused the state Congress leadership of running a “flop show" campaign in the parliamentary polls, the results of which will be officially announced on Thursday.

"Congress has had a flop show in Karnataka. Dinesh Gundu Rao is a flop show president and the CLP (Congress legislature party) leader (Siddaramaiah)...those who were flying should come back to the ground," Baig told a local Urdu channel on Monday evening.

Baig, who had unsuccessfully tried to secure a party ticket to contest from the Bengaluru Central parliamentary seat, was also rumoured to join the BJP. "I am firm on my decision that I will part ways with the party if required," he said.

Baig even appealing to the Muslim community to join hands with the BJP if required. Baig said that it was likely that BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will be in power for the next five years and possibly after that also. "I don't want Muslims to be untouchables," he said. Baig said that the Congress, who have for long enjoyed the unwavering support of the muslim community should retain them with respect and not like "bonded labour".

Baig's statements come at a time when several leaders within the Congress party have publicly expressed their displeasure over the functioning of the Karnataka party unit under Siddaramaiah and Rao.

The discord within the Congress ranks also threatens the year old H. D. Kumaraswamy-led coalition government that has battled more challenges within its ranks than external factors.

The two parties had come together not only to circumvent the hung verdict in last years polls but also help take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi led BJP in the national polls. However, the two parties have spent more time bickering, handing the advantage to the BJP.

Rao termed Baig’s rant as “pure political opportunism" and questioned the timing of the former minister’s accusations. Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi has urged party members not to make statements against the coalition.

Baig went on to call K.C.Venugopal, incharge of Organisation (All Indian Congress Committee) and Karnataka a “buffon", former chief minister Siddaramaiah “arrogant" and Rao as “flop show president" inviting sharp reactions from the party.

The BJP is pinning its hopes on this kind of dissent to destabilise the coalition government that was built on a shaky foundation ever since the two rivals came together in May last year.

Baig even lending support to Kumaraswamy, who has complained of being impeded by his predecessor. Baig, who was denied a ministerial berth in the Kumaraswamy cabinet, also alleged that the portfolios were “sold". “How can I blame poor Kumaraswamy. He was not allowed to function," Baig told reporters in Bengaluru.

The growing clamour calling for Siddaramaiah to be reinstated as chief minister has added to the tensions between the two parties whose leaders and worker have refused to overcome its bitter and bloody past. The results of the two by-polls in Chincholi and Kundgol will also add to the political drama that has consumed the entire focus of the government even at a time when the state is facing a severe drought and drinking water shortage.

“Here is the testimony of coalition govt from their 7th time MLA Roshan Baig Cong MLA has exposed @siddaramaiah @dineshgrao & @kcvenugopalmp for selling portfolios for hefty price within @INCKarnataka. After this incident Congress should never blame BJP for the fall of this govt," Arvind Limbavali, a senior BJP leader wrote on Twitter.

"I've received the show-cause notice sent to me by the KPCC. I'm not even going to bother to read it it because it's clearly sent by the orders of the same people whose incompetencies were highlighted by me," Baig wrote on Twitter.

In a series of tweet, Baig hit out at the leadership.

"Leadership defines a party and I've hit out at the leaders, unfortunately, attacks at the leadership turns into an attack at the party. There are several senior leaders who were capable of running the party but were sidelined," he wrote.

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