B'lore: Imbroglio on KPCC Presidentship Unresolved : Leadership Tilting Towards R V Deshpande?
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Sep 2: The expectation that the Congress high command would announce the name of the new Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president came to nought on Monday September 1. It appears, that the party is buying time before making up its mind in the matter.
The Congress leadership had summoned Siddaramaiah to New Delhi and he had rushed there in the morning itself. However, he could not meet Sonia Gandhi. The meeting is now expected to take place today.
RV Deshpande, Siddaramaiah
The confusion and hectic parleys that were witnessed since the last three months on the issue of appointing a president to the state unit of the Congress continued on Monday too. A source in the party said, that the Congress high command wants to give the charge of the state party unit to R V Deshpande, senior leader and ex-minister. It is also rumoured, that Siddaramaiah, about whom lot of expectations have been kicked up of late, was asked to come to New Delhi to pacify him before the high command nominates someone else for the post. The party appears to be jittery over making Siddu unhappy.
The Congress leadership may convince Siddaramaiah to wait for the time being, and not to take any hasty steps due to frustration. The party leaders, it is understood, are planning to prevail upon Siddaramaiah to extend his support and co-operation for the candidature of R V Deshpande, considered to be having the capacity to pool resources for the elections.
Party sources added, that the Congress high command might announce its final decision on Thursday September 4 or thereafter and not earlier. It may be recalled, that a camp led by Dharam Singh in the state, is planning to lead a delegation to New Delhi to prevent Siddaramaiah from being made the state president on Thursday.
Siddaramaiah accompanied by ex-MP Kodandaramaiah, ex ministers H M Revanna, R Krishnappa and MLA Venkatesh, reached Delhi in the morning itself. He waited for his proposed meeting with the party national president in vain till the evening. Sonia Gandhi was busy with the meeting of AICC secretaries.
Although Siddaramaiah met Prithviraj Chauhan and Digvijay Singh, Congress leaders in charge of the state, the meeting was said to be formal and no important issues were discussed.
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