Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Jul 6: Anger of Gowda community which has dominance in the taluk, poured out into the open after the announcement of the appointment of block Congress president here. Gowda community is disturbed at having been cold-shouldered by party leaders in spite of being in majority here.

A meeting of disgruntled leaders of the party was held under the leadership of former block Congress presidents, M Venkappa Gowda and Bharath Mundody on Wednesday July 5 at the inspection bungalow here. The meeting took some important decisions.

A powerful group of leaders from this community had been demanding that the post of the block Congress president should be given to a candidate from their community. The unexpected announcement of Jayaprakash Rai as block Congress president has come as bolt from the blue for these leaders, exposing internal differences between the party cadres. Over 50 leaders of the community came together at the meeting, where they expressed anger at not giving block president's post to Gowda leaders in this and some other important blocks in Dakshina Kannada district. They also accused top leaders of the party of taking unilateral decision in appointing block president without taking local leaders into confidence. The meeting also decided to depute a delegation to minister, D K Shivakumar and other leaders to urge them to set right the injustice meted out to Gowda community.

Veteran Congress leader from the taluk, Bharath Mundody, told media persons later that the leaders will place their demands before senior leaders of the party, and till their demands are met, the leaders have decided to stay away from  party programmes. "During the visit of observers of All India Congress Committee here on July 15, leaders will meet them to apprise them of the ground realities here. Former block president, M Venkappa Gowda, has been appointed as member of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. He has decided not to accept this membership till the demands of his community are met," he explained.