Cong asks Baig, two councillors to explain absence

The state Congress on Friday issued notices to former minister R Roshan Baig and two councillors, seeking an explanation on why they were absent during the voting.

Baig, who represents the Shivajinagar constituency, Bellandur councillor S Asha Suresh and Peenya Industrial Area councillor Lalitha Thimmananjaiah did not show up on Friday for the mayoral polls despite being asked to be there, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee has stated in the notices.

While Baig has been asked to immediately explain his absence, Asha and Lalitha have been issued show-cause notices with a week's time to explain why they did not show up.

Baig is said to be on a pilgrimage to Mecca.

"It is unfortunate that you went overseas despite knowledge of the election and without prior permission of the Congress Legislature Party leader or the KPCC president. As a senior leader, your behaviour has caused embarrassment to the party," the notice to Baig read. Notices to Asha and Lalitha stated that their absence showed their "irresponsibility".

KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao said it was an internal party matter. "We will decide on what needs to be done once their responses come in," he told reporters.