Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, May 14: “I have failed to succeed in the capacity of the working president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). I have not been able to do justice to the position I am holding, as per the expectations of the party leadership as well as the workers,” confessed KPCC working president, D K Shivakumar. He was introspecting his performance as the working president of the state unit of the Congress vis-à-vis party’s expectations, at a press conference held here on Thursday May 13.

“My assessment is that I could not live up to even 20% of the expectations of the people, party workers and the national leadership of the party. I feel I have failed to become a result-oriented working president,” he said in a voice laced with pain.

Shivakumar said he could not put into practice his speed, power, working style and organizing capability to the advantage of the party. Refusing to point fingers at anyone in particular for his failure, he felt he himself may have to be blamed for his dismal performance. “I could neither build the party to the level expected, nor could guide the party towards success in elections. I have miserably failed in the task entrusted to me,” he revealed openly.

Even though Shivakumar appeared to hint that someone else did not allow him to put to use his skills freely, he refused to name anyone or reveal who stopped him from working for the progress of the party. He refuted allegations that there was lack of coordination between himself and the KPCC president, R V Deshpande. “I am a dedicated worker of the Congress. I have done whatever the president instructed me to do,” he clarified.

Reacting to a comment passed recently by former union member, Oscar Fernandes, that the post of the working president of the party is redundant, he said that the national president of the party had appointed him, and that he would continue to discharge duties in this post as long as Sonia Gandhi wants him to. “Let those who question the creation of this post, approach Sonia Gandhi with this question,” he retorted.