Internal rift will bring down govt: BJP neta

As per Congress high command's directions, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah went on damage control mode and held talks with Karnataka Planning Commission Deputy Chairman BR Patil, Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan and MLA Raju Kage as soon as he returned from New Delhi on Wednesday evening.

- Devaraj B Hirehalli @Bengaluru

AS per Congress high command's directions, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah went on damage control mode and held talks with Karnataka Planning Commission Deputy Chairman BR Patil, Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan and MLA Raju Kage as soon as he returned from New Delhi on Wednesday evening.

Patil, a close associate of Siddaramaiah, had alleged that beneficiaries of housing schemes have to pay bribes to get houses allotted, the charge that was supported by Kage too.

Siddaramaiah told the three leaders that they should discuss issues with him before going public, sources said.

Siddaramaiah was told to contain the damage to the party and government when he met AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge in New Delhi on Tuesday evening. Kharge felt Siddaramaiah should have addressed the issue before it exploded.