Bengaluru: Dropped ministers and disappointed ministerial aspirants have intensified their campaign to gun for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s head, blaming him for the “irrational cabinet rejig”.

The disgruntled leaders are rallying behind dropped ministers Srinivas Prasad and Ambareesh to mount a united fight against Siddaramaiah. Former minister Qamarul Islam, disappointed ministerial aspirants Malaka Reddy, S T Somashekar and others met Prasad and discussed about the future course of action on Wednesday. Later, Prasad met Ambareesh and held deliberations.

They accused Siddaramaiah and Congress floor leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge of misleading the party high command while effecting the cabinet rejig to drop Prasad and Ambareesh unceremoniously from the ministry and induct their favourite candidates.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting Prasad said that they discussed ways to save the Congress party and give a good administration for the people.

“Siddaramaiah has effected the cabinet rejig with a single point agenda of protecting his personal interests. He has not shown the courtesy of speaking to us before dropping us from the ministry. We are ready to do anything to save the party. The party is more important than any person,” he said.

Prasad added that the issue of change of leadership in the state and preparing the party for the 2018 Assembly polls also came up for discussion. He ruled out any possibility of meeting Siddaramaiah to resolve the crisis.

Sack Siddu, demands Sharief

Senior Congress leader Jaffer Sharief also met Ambareesh on Wednesday evening and expressed his solidarity for the fight against Siddaramaiah. He termed the recent cabinet rejig as a move that could ruin Congress in the state and advocated the need for change of leadership in the state to save the party.

Sharief added that he would convey his opinion to the party high command.