<p>Kolar: Preparations are underway for the selection of the new district Congress president. KPCC President D K Shivakumar has appointed three observers to oversee the process.</p><p>Former minister Rani Satish, MLC Nagaraj Yadav, and former MLA Venkataramanappa will visit the six assembly constituencies in the district on July 12 and 13 to collect opinions on selection of the new president.</p><p>They will engage with MLAs, former MLAs, candidates who lost in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, senior district leaders, KPCC members, block Congress presidents, front-line unit office-bearers, and party workers.</p><p><strong>Seeking reappointment</strong></p><p>Current District Congress President C Lakshminarayana, who has completed two-and-a-half years in office, is seeking a reappointment. His initial appointment in the Congress was backed </p><p>by Naseer Ahmed and K R Ramesh Kumar but faced resistance from the K H Muniyappa faction, which had proposed Sheshapur Gopalakrishna as a candidate. However, with recent shifts in district politics, Lakshminarayana is now largely aligned with Muniyappa’s group. Consequently, the faction led by K R Ramesh Kumar may oppose his reappointment.</p><p>Recently, MLA Kothuru Manjunath criticised Muniyappa faction as the so-called ‘gang of eight’. Additionally, neither Manjunath, K Y Nanjegowda, M L Anil Kumar, nor their supporters participate in events, protests, or celebrations organised by the Muniyappa faction at the KPCC office.</p><p>Furthermore, during a Congress meeting at Nandini Palace, there was an attempt to attack Lakshminarayana and Prasad Babu. In another incident, a case involving district working president Urubagilu Srinivas also sparked significant unrest within the party office. Such factional clashes have been recurring at various events.</p><p><strong>Faction tensions</strong></p><p>Considering these past incidents, it is nearly sure that factional tensions are expected to continue during the new president’s selection, as both groups seek to have their preferred candidates chosen. Thus, regardless of who is appointed, internal conflicts are likely to persist.</p><p>Meanwhile, sources told DH that KPCC President D K Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are aware of the delicate situation and have instructed the observers to proceed with caution in Kolar.</p><p>D K Shivakumar has instructed the party observers that the individuals they recommend for the post of Congress district president must be actively involved in the party at the district level and have a clear identity within the organisation. Organisational ability, seniority in the party, integrity, and party loyalty should be considered as the key criteria. The observers have been directed to submit three such names in a sealed envelope.</p><p>On the other hand, Bangarpete MLA S N Narayanaswamy is likely to bat for Chandrareddy who recently returned to Congress from the BJP. Chandrareddy, who served as the president when in the Congress, had even said to have discussed this issue with D K Shivakumar while rejoining the party. K H Muniyappa is also likely to support this. </p><p>However, the factional group may strongly oppose appointing someone who had previously left the party.</p><p><strong>Factional group’s choice</strong></p><p>The factional group is also preparing to propose three candidates from their side, including MLC M L Anil Kumar, who has prior experience as president. If former Speaker V R Sudarshan, who resigned midway through his term, agrees, he may also be considered.</p><p>Kolar District Congress President C Lakshminarayana said, “Since I became Congress district president, four MLAs and one MLC have been elected from the district. We also achieved success in local body elections. I successfully organised two major rallies for Rahul Gandhi — in Kolar and Malur. I have effectively handled all responsibilities assigned by the KPCC and AICC. In have met District In-charge Minister Byrathi Basavaraj and he has asked met t move ahead. I have even met K H Muniyappa. I belong to a highly backward community and am not aligned with any faction — I stand with the Congress. Decisions taken in the party’s interest may have been bitter for some. The Congress believes in social justice. That is why I am once again an aspirant for the president’s post."</p><p>The selection will consider caste dynamics, organsational skills, party loyalty, influence, and the candidate’s ability to work harmoniously with all factions. Ultimately, the opinions of the majority of office-bearers and senior party leaders will be decisive in choosing the new president.</p>
<p>Kolar: Preparations are underway for the selection of the new district Congress president. KPCC President D K Shivakumar has appointed three observers to oversee the process.</p><p>Former minister Rani Satish, MLC Nagaraj Yadav, and former MLA Venkataramanappa will visit the six assembly constituencies in the district on July 12 and 13 to collect opinions on selection of the new president.</p><p>They will engage with MLAs, former MLAs, candidates who lost in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, senior district leaders, KPCC members, block Congress presidents, front-line unit office-bearers, and party workers.</p><p><strong>Seeking reappointment</strong></p><p>Current District Congress President C Lakshminarayana, who has completed two-and-a-half years in office, is seeking a reappointment. His initial appointment in the Congress was backed </p><p>by Naseer Ahmed and K R Ramesh Kumar but faced resistance from the K H Muniyappa faction, which had proposed Sheshapur Gopalakrishna as a candidate. However, with recent shifts in district politics, Lakshminarayana is now largely aligned with Muniyappa’s group. Consequently, the faction led by K R Ramesh Kumar may oppose his reappointment.</p><p>Recently, MLA Kothuru Manjunath criticised Muniyappa faction as the so-called ‘gang of eight’. Additionally, neither Manjunath, K Y Nanjegowda, M L Anil Kumar, nor their supporters participate in events, protests, or celebrations organised by the Muniyappa faction at the KPCC office.</p><p>Furthermore, during a Congress meeting at Nandini Palace, there was an attempt to attack Lakshminarayana and Prasad Babu. In another incident, a case involving district working president Urubagilu Srinivas also sparked significant unrest within the party office. Such factional clashes have been recurring at various events.</p><p><strong>Faction tensions</strong></p><p>Considering these past incidents, it is nearly sure that factional tensions are expected to continue during the new president’s selection, as both groups seek to have their preferred candidates chosen. Thus, regardless of who is appointed, internal conflicts are likely to persist.</p><p>Meanwhile, sources told DH that KPCC President D K Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are aware of the delicate situation and have instructed the observers to proceed with caution in Kolar.</p><p>D K Shivakumar has instructed the party observers that the individuals they recommend for the post of Congress district president must be actively involved in the party at the district level and have a clear identity within the organisation. Organisational ability, seniority in the party, integrity, and party loyalty should be considered as the key criteria. The observers have been directed to submit three such names in a sealed envelope.</p><p>On the other hand, Bangarpete MLA S N Narayanaswamy is likely to bat for Chandrareddy who recently returned to Congress from the BJP. Chandrareddy, who served as the president when in the Congress, had even said to have discussed this issue with D K Shivakumar while rejoining the party. K H Muniyappa is also likely to support this. </p><p>However, the factional group may strongly oppose appointing someone who had previously left the party.</p><p><strong>Factional group’s choice</strong></p><p>The factional group is also preparing to propose three candidates from their side, including MLC M L Anil Kumar, who has prior experience as president. If former Speaker V R Sudarshan, who resigned midway through his term, agrees, he may also be considered.</p><p>Kolar District Congress President C Lakshminarayana said, “Since I became Congress district president, four MLAs and one MLC have been elected from the district. We also achieved success in local body elections. I successfully organised two major rallies for Rahul Gandhi — in Kolar and Malur. I have effectively handled all responsibilities assigned by the KPCC and AICC. In have met District In-charge Minister Byrathi Basavaraj and he has asked met t move ahead. I have even met K H Muniyappa. I belong to a highly backward community and am not aligned with any faction — I stand with the Congress. Decisions taken in the party’s interest may have been bitter for some. The Congress believes in social justice. That is why I am once again an aspirant for the president’s post."</p><p>The selection will consider caste dynamics, organsational skills, party loyalty, influence, and the candidate’s ability to work harmoniously with all factions. Ultimately, the opinions of the majority of office-bearers and senior party leaders will be decisive in choosing the new president.</p>