Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jun 12: It is learnt that the national leadership of the Congress Party is seriously considering removal of the party’s state president, R V Deshpande, and working president, D K Shivakumar, from their posts. This is being mooted to wriggle out of the nationwide flak the party has received and the discomfiture it is in, after the unscrupulous use of flood relief funds collected by the state unit of the party became public knowledge. The high command of the party also hopes to silence its political detractors in this way.

Reportedly, both Deshpande and Shivakumar have received signals from Delhi that it would be in the best interests of the party if they own moral responsibility for the above fiasco and tender their resignations voluntarily. It is hoped that the party would be able to control the damage its image has suffered because of the above incident, if the two leave their posts. The party leaders feel that if the leaders continue to hold their posts, the party will be vulnerable to bitter attacks by the BJP and JDS during the assembly session beginning on June 28. Some state leaders, who are either unhappy with the functioning of these two leaders, or are hopeful of replacing them, are also bringing pressure on the high command to replace them, it is gathered. They have been pointing out to the ego clashes between the party president and working president, which have been ruining the party’s chances in the polls. The national leadership is likely to arrive at a decision in a day or two, after holding consultations with the in-charge of party affairs in the state, Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Deshpande met party’s national president, Sonia Gandhi, at her residence on Friday afternoon, and apprised her about the entire episode, amount collected by the party, expenditures incurred etc. It is learnt that during the 45-minute interaction with the party supremo, Deshpande also discussed about the upcoming Rajya Sabha election, and was told to work hard for the success of Oscar Fernandes and T V Maruti, candidates fielded by the party.

Speaking to reporters later, Deshpande said that he had requested the leader to conduct investigation into the allegation of flood relief fund misuse and insisted that everything was transparent. “If the investigations find that I was wrong, I am prepared to face action. If the high command asks me to resign, I will abide by the instructions. At the same time, everything need not be discussed in the presence of the media,” he opined.