Muniyappa flays activists over Cong debacle in poll

Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa addressed a meeting convened at Sham’s Shaadi Mahal to introspect the Congress party’s failure in the recent by-elections, in Bangarpet, on Saturday.

The minister questioned the leaders about the abysmal performance of the party in the recently concluded by elections.

“ The candidates who represented the party in the elections were well-known and had carved a name for themselves in their respective constituencies. Despite their popularity and the stiff competition they posed, they tasted bitter failure. What were the factors that contributed to their failure? There is a need for all of us here to formulate an answer for the recent debacle in the elections and furnish the same to the State Unit president and the party high command,” urged Muniyappa.

A number of players have represented Bangarpet constituency in both district and State politics. The party has a good base in Bethamangala, Budikote, Kasaba,  D K Halli and Huttur.

Moreover, party activists turn out in large numbers for every party meeting. Despite all the factors, the Congress party suffered humiliating defeat in the recent by elections. If only all the party members present in today’s meeting had unitedly supported the candidate, the party would not have suffered defeat in the elections, observed the minister.

Muniyappa, who grew emotional in the midst of the talk vehemently critiqued the former prime minister H D Deve Gowda.

Also speaking on the occasion B V Krishnappa, son of JD(S) candidate C Venkateshappa, accused his father for the party’s failure.

The JD(S) entered into an agreement with the Congress and hatched a conspiracy against the party candidate, which finally contributed to the failure of the Congress. Moreover, the BJP openly used the JD(S) activists for campaigning, said Krishnappa.

Former speaker Ramesh Kumar rued that money and misuse of power had triumphed in the by elections.

District Congress Committee president Anil Kumar, former president Bisse Gowda, Zilla Panchayat member MS Anand, A M Lakshminarayan, Narayana Reddy, BV Krishnappa, Harish, former member Ramachandra, Appireddy, Muniraju, former MLA Nisar Ahmed, K Chandra Reddy,  Shamshuddin Babu, Parthasarathy, Belaganahalli Munivenkatappa and others were present.