Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 31: Sources said that All India Congress Committee vice president, Rahul Gandhi, who was upset over choosing Rizwan Ahmed to file nomination for the legislative council against his wishes, has taken both chief minister, Siddaramaiah, and state Congress in-charge general secretary, Digvijay Singh, to task.

Rahul had clearly told the state leaders to choose Nazeer Ahmed as a candidate for the council. It is gathered that when Rizwan's name came up, Rahul had insisted that he can fight an election and get elected, as he favoured fielding of senior party workers now. It is said that under pressure from JDS MLA, Zameer Ahmed Khan, Digvijay Singh and Siddaramaiah got the nod of Sonia Gandhi for fielding Rizwan in place of Nazeer.

Rizwan Ahmed with Rahul Gandhi

It is said that Rizwan and Zameer are business partners. Zameer, who visited New Delhi in the guise of discussing third Congress candidate for Rajya Sabha, lobbied for Rizwan and succeeded in getting him a ticket. In the bargain, he has earned the ire of Rahul Gandhi.

It is said that Siddaramaiah favoured fielding of Rizwan to potect personal interests of some Congress leaders. Ministers, K J George and Roshan Baig, are planning to fight Lok Sabha elections, duly leaving assembly constituencies to their sons. Rizwan, who had fought from Bengaluru central Lok Sabha constituency recently but lost, automatically would have got precedence over K J George. To move him aside from competition, he is being made member of the council, analysts claim.

There have been rumours within Congress circle that R B Thimmapura who belongs to Dalit community, has been chosen as a nominee for council elections to cut social welfare minister, H Anjaneya, to size. Thimmapura reportedly got full support of Mallikarjun Kharge and therefore got nominated. Thimmapura, who was a two-time MLA and minister once, is backed by rich experience.