Bengaluru : Disqualified MLA from Hirekeruer BC Patil blamed KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao for the pathetic condition of the state Congress party.

Addressing pressperson BC Patil said, “Congress is in a pathetic situation only because of Dinesh Gundu Rao. His leadership could not even manage to win more than one seat for the Congress party in the Lok Sabha election.

“Congress had managed to win nine seats the last time around,” said Patil.

He further Welcoming Yediyurappa’s statement, that Disqualified Congress-JDS MLAs would be given BJP tickets for the bypolls if they wanted, BC Patil said, “It is a matter of happiness. We will all sit together and decide on it in the future.”

Stating that disqualified MLAs have not yet discussed joining BJP, he said, “let the court decide on our disqualification, then we will discuss it and come to a decision.”

The by-polls to 15 out of 17 seats represented by them has been scheduled for December 5 even as the Supreme Court, hearing their pleas challenging the disqualification, is yet to decide on their eligibility to contest the polls.

Though the MLAs had submitted their resignations from the assembly, then-Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar, acting on petitions by Congress and JDS, disqualified them for alleged anti-party activities under the anti-defection law till the expiry of the term of the current assembly in 2023.

Among the 15 constituencies going for polls, 12 were represented by Congress and 3 by JD(S). BJP will need to win at least six seats in the coming by-elections to stay in power. The ruling party has 104 MLAs and is supported by an independent in the assembly whose current strength is 208 with 17 vacancies.

While the Congress’ strength is 66, JD(S) has 34 MLAs in the assembly that also consists of one BSP member, a nominated member and the Speaker. The actual strength of the assembly is 225 and the halfway mark is 113.