Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Jun 25: With the race to grab the position of the president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) getting tougher by the day, H K Patil, former minister, who is keen to get the position is making efforts to get the support of the senior leaders of the Congress party.

It is learnt that H K Patil met M Veerappa Moily, former central minister, and told him that he was ready to manage the Congress party as the president of KPCC and has requested for Moily's co-operation and support. Patil has had a discussion with K H Muniyappa, who is also an aspirant for the same position. K H Muniyappa, it is learnt, has told H K Patil that if the high command were to decide to give the post to a leader from north Karnataka, he would support him, but if the post is reserved for a leader from south Karnataka, Patil should support Muniyappa's nomination.

In the midst of all this, according to sources, Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the Congress parliamentary party, has also said that H K Patil can be considered for the position of the president of KPCC. Kharge has also said that it would be better to nominate seniors as the Lok Sabha elections are around the corner and also for the fact that coordination is required between the party and the state coalition government also.

If H K Patil, who is unhappy over not getting a ministerial berth, is given the responsibility of the president of KPCC, then Dinesh Gundu Rao may be made the chief secretary of the AICC. In addition to H K Patil, people like M B Patil, S R Patil and B K Hariprasad are also in the fray for the top post of KPCC.

It is also learnt that several leaders have put pressure on the Congress high command to nominate a proactive president for KPCC as it is becoming difficult for Dr Parameshwar to balance his work as the president of KPCC, home minister and also Bengaluru city development minister.