Congress is not a bus, those joining must stay on, says D K Shivakumar

From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 24: Karnataka Congress on Thursday welcomed prominent BJP leaders hailing from the Shivamogga district of the state. Shivamogga district is considered a bastion of the BJP and the family of B S Yediyurappa dominates the politics.

Ayanur Manjunath from JD (S) and S P Nagarajagowda, who contested against BJP MLA B Y Vijayendra as an independent candidate joined the Congress party in the presence of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Congress President D K Shivakumar at the party headquarters in Bengaluru.

Sources said that the leaders are welcomed to Congress despite the opposition from the local unit in view of the Lok Sabha elections. Yediyurappa’s son B Y Raghavendra is representing the Shivamogga MP seat since 2009. His other son B Y Vijayendra is an MLA from Shikaripura constituency in Shivamogga district.

Nagarajagowda secured 70,802 votes as an independent candidate and was defeated by 11,008 votes. Sources explain that Nagarajagowda was denied a ticket to contest from Shivamogga as part of adjustment politics between Yediyurappa and senior leadership of the Congress party at the state level.

The party leadership wants to pass on a strong message by managing to pull the leaders and wants to win more than 20 seats out of 28 in the state. If a strong leader like Yediyurappa is challenged on his own turf, the Congress party will gain the upper hand in the political scenario, sources said.

Shivakumar had pulled former chief minister late S Bangarappa’s son Madhu Bangarappa to Congress and gave him the portfolio of education to strengthen the party cadres in Shivamogga.

Sources explain that Shivakumar is now trying to pull Madhu Bangarappa’s brother Kumar Bangarappa who is in the BJP party presently. Kumar and Madhu, the brothers are arch political rivals. Kumar is close to Yediyurappa.

Addressing the party workers at the KPCC office to welcome former BJP MLC and MP Ayanur Manjunath, who quit JD(S) to join the party, and also Shivamogga BJP's Nagaraj Gowda, Shivakumar said “Congress party is not a bus to climb in and jump off at every stop. Those joining the party must stay on and work for its success and the party will take of them.’’ 

"All those who join the party accepting its ideology and policies must stick on and should not quit at their whims and fancies as it will reduce their value and importance," he advised.

The KPCC chief made it clear that he was not targeting only those who joined the party on Thursday but was making it clear to all those who joined from other parties at different points of time. “This applies to all our leaders and workers,’’ he said.

Shivakumar said all Congress members and its leaders must remember that the party gives them an identity and importance and respects their contribution.

The KPCC chief said Ayanur Manjunath had joined the Congress and then left to join BJP and later the JD(S). “The love for Congress has made him to come back. Just as all rivers join the ocean, all political activists join the party. Congress is like a big ocean. It accepts waters from all rivers,’’ he said.

Pointing out that former Congress Chief Minister S Bangarappa, who hailed from Shivamogga, had launched the Ashraya scheme and also the Aradhana scheme to fund repair and renovation of temples.

Shivakumar said the party does not guarantee posts and positions to all those who join the Congress. ``Posts and positions as well as recognition will be based on their strengths, abilities and contributions. The party will give importance to the grass roots workers and will not neglect them to accommodate newcomers. At the same time, the decision be based on ground realities,’’ he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said he does not take decisions on whom to admit or not unilaterally. The party consults its leaders and also the Chief Minister. All decisions are taken on the needs of social engineering and built the party, he said.

The KPCC chief asked all leaders and partymen to work for building and strengthening the organisation. Rewards for those who work sincerely will come in course of time, he added.

(With inputs from IANS)