Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 17: As per information received, the Congress high command, after thinking in depth about options before it and also pros and cons, has finally decided to make D K Shivakumar the president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). A communique in this respect is expected to be issued at any time now.

Siddaramaiah will be continued in the current post of the leader of the opposition while the post of the leader of the Congress legislature party will be given to either Dr G Parameshwar or M B Patil. If Parameshwar becomes leader of the Congress legislature party M B Patil may be made general secretary of All India Congress Committee or Congress Working Committee member, sources in the party said.

Even though there has been vehement opposition to the appointment of Shivakumar as the KPCC president, the party wants to reward him for the loyalty he has been showing and taking into account the fact that he had come to the rescue of party in critical times. He also is close to Ahmed Patel. Also the popularity of Shivakumar, in spite of facing several cases, has increased of late, it has noticed.

Siddaramaiah had argued that making M B Patil the KPCC president will help the party to get Lingayat votes. It is said that the high command feels that it will not be possible to immediately sway the Lingayat votes away from Yediyurappa within a short period. The fact that Shivakumar has good rapport with JD(S) leaders is a plus point for him. This decision however, leaders feel, will loosen the grip Siddaramaiah enjoyed on the state unit of the party so far.

It is said that the party is interested in appointing four division-wise working presidents. Names like U T Khader and Ishwar Khandre are being heard for these posts.

Dinesh Gundu Rao said that there is no problems in the appointment of KPCC president and asked the high command to take a decision at the earliest. He said that there is no difference between original Congressmen and those who crossed over later. K H Muniyappa said that the high command has collected everyone's opinion, and no one knows what will be the final decision. He said being a national party, naturally there are some differences of poplin within the party.