Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/EP)
Udupi, Oct 11: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao has directed former minister Pramod Madhwaraj to take part in election campaign under the leadership of AICC chief secretary Venugopal for Vidhan Sabha by-elections in Manjeshwar, Kerala. The former minister tweeted about the same.
It is said that a copy of the official order will be handed over in a day or two and the hurdles for Pramod Madhwaraj to indulge in Congress party will be removed. The supporters of Pramod have expressed joy over the developments.
Pramod speaking to Daijiworld, said that Venugopal and Dinesh Gundu Rao had spoken to him over phone on Friday and asked him to campaign for the nominated candidate in Kerala bypolls. “I have consented to it and will be going to Kirimanjeshwar on Saturday,” he said.
When asked if the matter is discussed in Udupi district Congress committee, he said that he does not know about it and will not even consider it.
Members and supporters of Pramod had expressed mixed opinion over the statement of Veerappa Moily who reportedly said that Pramod should apply again for the membership of Congress party.
Pramod later formally severed his ties with the Janata Dal (Secular), resigning from its primary membership. A JD(S)-Congress coalition candidate from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency in the general elections held in April/May, Pramod, a ‘Congressman’ had ‘technically’ become a member of the JD(S), which issued him a B form to contest the polls.
Later report
“I never gave up on Congress. I have neither been contacted by JD(S) or BJP to join their party. Everyone knows that I belong to Congress physically and mentally,” Pramod Madhwaraj told media.
“I wrote a letter to KPCC president asking him the opportunity to participate in party activities and not join the party. The question of rejoining the party does arise as I never resigned Congress and neither was I expelled,” he explained.
“According to the agreement between Congress and JD(S) and based on the decision of KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao and Siddaramaiah, I had agreed to contest as MP of Udupi and Chikkamagaluru. I never left out the Congress symbol. Due to some technical reasons, I joined JD(S). After the fall of coalition, I resigned to this technical membership,” he said.
“Technically, I am still in the Congress party and it is supposed to be announced officially. The question of rejoining the party does not arise. There were some complications on technical things. Now, I hope that everything is solved after Dinesh Gundu Rao asked me to campaign for Manjeshwar candidate. I hope that Congress will do official announcement soon,” Pramod Madhwaraj said.
He came down heavily on BJP and said it is trying to target opposition party leaders and end their political careers by conducting raids. He called it undemocratic and asked BJP to give a declaration that all its party leaders are honest. The BJP leaders need to declare that they have not taken bribes, enjoyed party funds, are not dealing with black money and are not spending black money during election.
He also said that the government is trying to suppress media and its freedom of expression.