Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Aug 4: As per information received, a meeting of Congress leaders held at Bengaluru on Friday August 3, after discussions, decided to field former minister and MLA, Vinay Kumar Sorake, from Udupi - Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency during the next year's election. At the meeting, names of MP, Veerappa Moily, and Rajya Sabha member, B K Hariprasad, too were considered for this seat, it is said. The meeting also discussed the name of Ramanatha Rai for Dakshina Kannada constituency.

Congress seems to be banking on Sorake, considering the fact that this constituency has abundance of Billava votes. Sorake had won from Udupi Lok Sabha constituency in 1999 and hence is backed by the experience of having functioned in the parliament. Therefore, the think tank of the party has favoured him as the party's candidate, sources say. There had been speculations that on account of caste calculations, Jayamala might be fielded by the party here.

Ramanatha Rai and Vinay Kumar Sorake

The meeting reportedly was attended by former chief minister and chairman of coordination committee of the government, Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, party's Karnataka unit in-charge, K C Venugopal, working president, Eshwar Khandre, MLCs, Jayamala and Pratapchandra Shetty, former MLA, Gopal Poojary, district Congress president, Janardhana Thonse etc.

When contacted, Ramanath Rai said “I am an ordinary party worker. If they give me ticket, I will contest. Otherwise I will support whichever candidate the party chooses”

District in-charge minister U T Khader, while asked about the candidature of Ramanatha Rai, said that the election will be fought under the leadership of Ramanatha Rai and small problems of the present will be sorted out soon. He did not elaborate further.

It is said that the meeting also discussed and favoured appointment of Booth Pramukhs for every booth just like BJP did in the last election to be able to work more effectively. This strategy of BJP had clicked for it during the assembly election. At the meeting, former ministers, MPs and MLAs, who were accused of organizing party by sitting inside the comforts of their homes, were told to actively engage in field work to strengthen the party organization. They were warned of action if they fail to do so.