'Leaders' lethargy led to defeat'

 
Deshpande said he would send a report to the party high command citing the reasons for the defeat, including the names of party leaders who did not work on accepted lines during the polls. 

However, Deshpande refused to divulge the names of the leaders. “It is indeed a setback that the party had to face defeat in Chittapur and Kollegal. The presence of the BSP candidate in Kollegal amounted to division of votes,” Deshpande said. Union Minister Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyank unsuccessfully contested the byelections on a Congress ticket from Chittapur.

To a query whether the party would enter into a pre-poll alliance with the JD(S) for the BBMP elections, Deshpande said it was for the high command to decide. However, the success of such a tie-up in Govindrajnagar Assembly constituency need to be taken before arriving at a final decision, he said.

He thanked JD(S) President H D Deve Gowda for supporting the Congress candidate in Govindrajnagar.