Kolar: Muniyappa hints at sabotage

Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa on Wednesday said the Congress should pull up those responsible for the party candidate’s defeat in Kolar, a seat he represented seven times.

Congress’ K V Gowtham lost to Mallesh Babu of the JD(S). Gowtham was a consensus candidate following a tussle between Muniyappa and his rival faction within Congress led by former speaker K R Ramesh Kumar. Muniyappa wanted the ticket for his son-in-law, which his rivals opposed.

"Those who had taken responsibility of victory…those who opposed the ticket to my family member…they should answer,” Muniyappa said.

"As a loyal party soldier, I took part in campaigning. There was no sabotage from my end. Everyone knows who is responsible for the defeat. The party should pull them up,” he said.