JOIN USMove to induct 'outsiders' triggers rebellion in Cong
The State Congress’ move to strengthen the party by inducting leaders from other parties ahead of the polls seems to have boomeranged, with leaders and workers openly revolting against it.
Many of the upset partymen are learnt to have even fielded ‘rebel’ candidates against the party in the urban local body (ULB) elections on Saturday, the last day for filing nomination papers.
Besides, the old problem of plenty has again come to haunt the party: Leaders in several places are learnt to have fielded their followers as Independent candidates, protesting the dominance of their rivals within the party.
This has led to a lot of confusion. AICC Karnataka incharge Madhusudan Mistry rushed to Bangalore on Saturday evening to quell the rebellion and prevent any damage to the party. He held talks with senior leaders and district party presidents. February 27 is the last date for withdrawing the nomination papers.
The ULB election results are considered important for the party as it will set the trend for the crucial State Assembly elections likely to be held in May.
Despite stiff resistance from many senior leaders to induct 18 leaders from other parties, several of them former MLAs, the State unit is learnt to have given priority to the followers of leaders who are aspiring to join the party, while issuing tickets to contest the ULB polls. This has upset the local leaders.
For instance, senior party leader Mallajamma is said to be unhappy with the party’s decision to accord priority to the followers of P M Narendraswamy (Independent MLA), while issuing tickets at Malavalli in Mandya district.
18 leaders
Ditto is the situation in many Assembly constituencies where sitting MLAs have aspired to join the Congress. The State unit had recently recommended to the high command to induct the 18 leaders.
These leaders represent constituencies where the Congress is said to be weak. But many senior leaders, who have a clout in these places, are against the move. Among senior leaders opposing the move are former union minister C K Jaffer Sharief and Union Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily.
But the party is learnt to have informally promised seven leaders (four Independent MLAs and three former MLAs) that they will be accommodated.
There is said to be confusion in many places with party workers entering the fray as Independent candidates. For instance, Ravindra, son of former MLA Parvathamma Srikantaiah, is learnt to have fielded his followers as Independent candidates in Srirangapatna, opposing actor-politician M H Ambareesh’s decision to give party tickets to his followers. Similarly, sitting MLA in Chintamani M C Sudhakar has fielded his followers as Independent candidates, protesting Union Minister K H Muniyappa’s dominance in the constituency.
‘Don’t promise them tickets’
When contacted, Jaffer Sharief said: “Anybody willing to join the party without any conditions should be welcomed. But the party should not promise tickets to contest polls to such leaders. Inducting leaders from outside should not be at the cost of loyal party workers and the party’s image.”