Mangaluru: It has been learnt that senior Congress leader and former union minister, Janardhana Poojary has been told by the Congress high command, not to speak anything against the state government in public.

Janardhana Poojary has of late been vigorously attacking and criticizing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as well as the state government in public recently, through press meets.

Recently, Congress national president Sonia Gandhi, on behalf of the party, met Poojary in New Delhi and explained him the party stance. Sonia also reportedly told Poojary that he was free to express his views in party forums and also with the leadership and high command privately.

According to the sources, it is said that high command received a complaint from state leadership regarding the dissidence of senior leaders Jaffer Sharif, H Vishwanath and Janardhana Poojary.

At first, he was using the party office to criticize the chief minister but later he started doing it from the press club. The high command was told that these developments embarrassed the Congress leaders.

It is said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi spoke to Poojary separately and told him to express his views in private and at party forums and explained to him how it would have negative impact on the party prospects in the Assembly elections.

He expressed his displeasure in some administrative matters and also briefed her about the recent developments in state politics.