Congress not to re-admit deserters

With several leaders from other parties keen on joining the Congress ahead of the Assembly elections, the Congress is assessing whether to induct the turncoats or face the polls on its own strength.

“The Congress high command is seized of the matter. We will inform you as and when the party takes a decision,” AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka affairs Madhusudan Mistry told Deccan Herald on Sunday.

Mistry was referring to the reported opposition within the State unit of the Congress on inducting former ministers C P Yogeeshwara and others of the BJP. He clarified that the party has not held out promises to any leaders on giving them the ticket to contest the Assembly polls. 

Sources in the party said that though the State leaders brought to the notice of the high command the eagerness of leaders from the BJP and other parties to join the Congress, the top brass categorically said that the decision will be taken at the highest level after the completion of civic body polls.

The party has made its stand clear that those facing corruption charges are not welcome. Besides, those who had quit the Congress during the previous Assembly poll will not be re-admitted, a senior leader said.

The party has also taken serious note of the activities of some state leaders, who are unilaterally promising the ticket and are lobbying for admitting some BJP leaders, he said. If any leader from BJP or other party faces opposition from block or district units of the Congress, they will not be inducted.

The party will take local leaders into confidence before taking a decision, he said. Besides, the issue is before Congress president Sonia Gandhi.