Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, May 29: Congress is in the news for wrong reasons again. Internal friction has raised its ugly head again in the form of tussle for the CM’s position. In addition, unhappiness has been expressed over the selection of candidates for the forthcoming elections to the Rajya Sabha and the legislative council.
In the Kuruba JanaJagriti conference that was held at Tumakuru on Saturday, leaders urged that Siddaramaiah should be made the next CM of the state if Congress attains power.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Byrathi Suresh said, “Siddaramaiah is the leader of all castes in the state. He has no intention of becoming CM. But the people of Karnataka need his leadership. We will hold a Ahinda conference in the coming days with lacs of people participating in it thus voicing their support for Siddaramaiah.”
Former MLA K N Rajanna also said that Siddaramaiah, who is the voice of the backward communities, oppressed classes and the poor of the state should be made the next CM.
Siddaramaiah indirectly made his intentions known by saying, “I have never fallen behind in providing justice to backward classes, minorities and the Dalits. In future also I will fight for them regardless of whether I am in power or not. I have always been the voice of the oppressed classes. I have not joined any other party for the sake of power.”
Former deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwar’s absence was conspicuous in the conference. He abstained himself from the earlier programme of washermen and minorities that was held in Tumakuru. This has caused curiosity in the party. Rumours are rife that all is not well in the Karnataka Congress unit.
Meanwhile, unhappiness over the selection of candidates for RS and MLC positions has also come out in the open within the State Congress. Leader M D Laxminarayana has written a letter to KPCC president D K Shivakumar questioning him about the eligibility criteria for selection of the candidates. Laxminarayan has sought a discussion in this regard with DKS.
In his letter written to DKS, Laxminarayan posed several questions like “Is there a selection committee in KPCC? How many meetings were held for to finalise names for MLC elections? What criteria were followed while selecting candidates? How many names were recommended from the aspirants’ list to AICC? What is the reason for declining the names suggested by KPCC president Shivakumar and former CM Siddaramaiah? Why was approval given to other names than the ones proposed by Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah?”
Former speaker V R Sudarshan has expressed ire over the nomination of Jairam Ramesh for Rajya Sabha from Karnataka. Sudarshan questioned the contribution of Jairam Ramesh to the state. He said Jairam Ramesh might be from Karnataka. But what contribution has he made with respect to the land and water issues of this state and also with regard to the GST issue.
Sudarshan said it is not right for the AICC to select the candidates. That responsibility should be given to state leaders like D K Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, Mallikarjuna Kharge and Surjewala. He also said that there are plenty of people in Karnataka who have worked for the party and it is not right to nominate people from Delhi.
KPCC chief secretary Kavitha Reddy and former chief of social media Nataraja Gowda also expressed objection and reservation over selection of candidates for the legislative council polls. Notice was served to Kavitha Reddy in this regard.