In fresh trouble for the Congress, former Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy has lashed out at those at the helm of the party in the State for what he called “neglect of seniors, lack of coordination and inefficiency of some Ministers” that all contributed to the party’s humiliating loss in the Lok Sabha elections.

While the Congress has been trying hard to placate rebel MLAs who have been threatening to quit, the fresh salvo comes from seniors who feel that the so-called rebels are privileged over loyalists. In an open letter posted on Twitter, Mr. Reddy stated that the Congress had suffered in the absence of an elderly party statesman in the coalition ministry and because of a “lack of organisational vision” in some Ministers.

“Not including party veterans in the coalition ministry and lack of performance of some Ministers led to the poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka. Seniors like me were denied ministerial berths, and I have never indulged in lobbying for Cabinets berths,” Mr. Reddy tweeted.

The seven-time MLA served as Home Minister and Transport Minister in the previous Siddaramaiah government. His daughter, Sowmya Reddy, is an MLA from Jayanagar constituency in Bengaluru.

Mr. Reddy is also believed to have called on Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday and discussed with him some of the “mistakes” of party leaders. He is said to have suggested to Mr. Rao that Ministers who failed to deliver in the general elections should be relegated to organisational positions in the party.

“Party leaders have to introspect on giving fair representation to seniors in the ministry. Cautious steps have to be taken to ensure that no senior leaders leave the party. It is difficult for seniors to stay in the party if the present situation continues,” Mr. Reddy warned in the tweet.

Independent trouble

What appears to have sparked this is the proposal to induct Independent MLAs R. Shankar and H. Nagesh into the Cabinet for ensuring the government’s stability. Mr. Reddy questioned the criteria adopted for Cabinet expansion.

The Congress leader, who played a key role in stitching up the coalition in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and electing a Congress Mayor, has been feeling let down by the party after he was left out of the Cabinet. A few months ago, his supporters staged a protest seeking ministerial berth for him.

Baig joins in

Meanwhile, another former Minister and minority community leader, R. Roshan Baig, once again hit out at senior Congress leaders and concurred with Mr. Reddy. Mr. Baig, who had earlier criticised K.C. Venugopal, All-India Congress Committee general secretary in charge of Karnataka, said, “I agree with Mr. Reddy. Senior leaders like Mr. Reddy and I are being sidelined, and we should hold discussions. There is no chemistry between the two coalition parties.”

Sources said Mr. Baig’s grouse is that he was denied ticket to contest in the Lok Sabha elections from Bengaluru Central and that the top party leaders were “unduly promoting” Zameer Ahmed in the government and within the party.

Earlier, former MLA K.N. Rajanna criticised Congress leaders for the party’s defeat in Tumakuru constituency.