Rajasekharan kicks up row over denial of ticket to SMK

Senior Congress leader M V Rajasekharan has kicked up a controversy by stating that Minister of State for Agriculture  Krishna Byre Gowda was responsible for former external affairs minister S M Krishna not getting the ticket to contest the Rajya Sabha election from the State.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Krishna at his Sadashivanagar residence, Rajasekharan said a section of the media had reported that Gowda had  played a role in the party denying the ticket to Krishna.

However, Gowda rejected the charge and claimed that he had nothing to do with the party’s decision on the candidates’ selection.

“I don't understand why my name has been dragged into the issue. I don't know why Rajasekharan mentioned my name. I have nothing to do with it and it is purely the decision of the party,” Gowda said.

Gowda also met Krishna at his residence and spoke to him about the controversy. “I have explained the issue to Krishna. I have told him I have no role and that people are unnecessarily dragging my name,” he said.

When contacted, Rajasekharan said he had only quoted the media reports and not made any allegation against Gowda. “Krishna is one of the tallest leaders of the party. He deserves to be in the Upper House. There is a need to know who is responsible for Krishna not getting the ticket,” he said.

He said he personally spoke to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in this regard on Monday and asked him who was responsible for it. The chief minister said he had no clue, and added that he had recommended Krishna’s name, he said.

Letter to Digvijaya

Rajasekharan said he had written to AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Digvijaya Singh, on the issue and expressed his displeasure over the decision of the party not to give Krishna a ticket to contest the Rajya Sabha election.

“I have conveyed to Singh that there is a widespread dissatisfaction among the party leaders over Krishna being denied the ticket,” he said.