Chikkamagaluru: A rift has deepened within the Congress in Mudigere, with senior party functionaries and grassroots workers openly rebelling against MLA Nayana Motamma. The MLA hit back, claiming economically powerful communities were working behind the opposition.Dissent against the MLA surfaced at a meeting in Gonibeedu on Thursday night, where senior leaders alleged that she was arrogant and sidelining them.A month ago, party workers and leaders approached state-level Congress leaders seeking action against the MLA. The leaders took her to task for removing senior leader BS Jayaram as chairman of the Guarantee Committee.Former minister BB Ningaiah said, “Workers who kept Congress alive for all these years are now being sidelined. The MLA is listening only to a small coterie. This is not a good development and the MLA must correct herself, or she has to face the consequences,” he warned.Former Congress spokesperson HH Devaraj alleged that the MLA was colluding with opponents and had not held a single meeting to create awareness about the state govt’s five guarantee schemes.The rift escalated after the Block Congress Committee initiated disciplinary action against a few workers loyal to senior leaders. The move was challenged, leading to confrontations between rival groups in Mudigere town.Former Block Congress president MP Manu also told TOI that the MLA should change her style of functioning. The leaders also levelled corruption charges against the MLA and claimed she had made her residence her official office. “We cannot question her at her residence office,” the leaders charged.“When Nayana’s mother Motamma, a former minister, was MLA, she took everyone together. Now workers are being insulted,” said BS Jayaram.With gram panchayat and TP/ZP elections approaching, both factions are vying for control of the party organisation in Mudigere.Leaders warned that continued infighting could dent Congress prospects in the segment, which the party won for the first time in 2023 after years.Responding to the allegations, Nayana said a group had been opposing her since before the 2023 assembly elections. She told TOI that the opposition was linked to caste equations in the reserved constituency. “I have proven myself with my work, and they are not questioning my efficiency,” Nayana said.“It is always a problem in a reserved constituency. For years, economically powerful communities have been trying to control the MLA. There was opposition to fielding me because I am educated and knowledgeable. These leaders need a candidate who blindly listens to them,” she added.“They want me to take their opinion and have demands like I should call them once a month. My office is open. If they want to get any work done, they can come. But I will work as per the party structure to organise programmes or for distribution of funds,” she said.
