Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Feb 17: The state is bracing up for next year's assembly election. Congress plans to silence voices of dissent rising from its own camp in order to see that the image of the party remains intact. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), moving in this direction, has recommended initiation of disciplinary action against veteran Congress leaders, B Janardhan Poojary, and C K Jaffer Sharief.
In a letter addressed to All India Congress Committee, KPCC has pointed out that these leaders have often been putting the party and its chief minister in a soup by airing criticisms and derogatory comments openly, which have been affecting the image of the party and the government. "The party workers have been frustrated by the behaviour of both Sharief and Poojary. There is a need to rein in these leaders in view of the bypoll being held to Nanjangud and Gundlupet assembly constituencies," KPCC said in its letter.
Sources said that the letter also talks about the statements of these disgruntled leaders dampening the spirit of the party workers. Therefore, it has recommended disciplinary action against them. The disciplinary committee of the party headed by A K Antony is likely to take a call on this recommendation shortly.
In the meantime, KPCC is trying to gag A H Vishwanath, former MP from Mysuru, who has also been a bitter critic of chief minister, Siddaramaiah. KPCC has served a notice on him, seeking his explanation for violating party discipline by making derogatory comments against national president of the party, Sonia Gandhi, and vice president, Rahul Gandhi, sources said.