No tie-up with JD(S), says Parameshwara

This statement comes at a time when the Opposition parties - Congress and JD(S) - have been accused of making joint efforts to destabilise the ruling BJP.

Outgoing KPCC chief R V Deshpande handed over the party flag to Parameshwara to mark handing over the charge at an impressive function held at Congress Bhavan in Bangalore. A host of Congress leaders including Union ministers S M Krishna, K H Muniyappa, senior leaders C K Jaffer Sharief, CLP leader Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar and Motamma among other leaders witnessed the event.

Shamanur absent

Shamanur Shivashankarappa, who was a prominent contender for the post was absent. A few hundreds of party workers, many of them from Tumkur, gathered to witness the occasion.

In his maiden speech after assuming the new responsibility, Parameshwara said the Congress would have friendship with the JD(S) only on issues concerned to the public. However, when it comes to having tie-up with the party, the AICC would take the call.

The new KPCC chief straight away targeted the ruling BJP, describing the  government’s saree distribution programme as a “shamelss act” and “an insult to women”.

He said his priority would be to connect the party’s leadership to party workers at the grassroots level. He would visit to all districts and 224 constituencies in the coming days and address problems of the party workers.

Parameshwara did not spare the elders in the party. “Senior leaders of the party give long speeches on the dais regarding building the party. But they should practice what they preach”, he said. He invited those left the party in the recent years to return.

Deshpande, in his departing note, said that the party was defeated because of money power of the BJP. Out going working president Shivakumar admitted that he failed in his tenure.