Cong meet insists on Council chief's post for party

The meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) held on Wednesday witnessed Congress legislators demanding their leadership to ensure the party gets the Legislative Council chairperson’s post.

“At no cost should the party let the post go to the JD(S). It’s crucial for the Congress’ survival in the coalition,” the MLAs demanded, it is learnt. Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara assured them that AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal would hold talks and take a decision.

Legislators asked CLP leader Siddaramaiah and Parameshwara to ensure the Congress’ interests are not compromised in the coalition set-up.

Ministerial aspirants also mounted pressure on the party to expand the Cabinet soon. The Congress has six berths vacant from its quota of 22.

Legislators also discussed the Rs 34,000-crore crop loan waiver.

Apparently, senior leader H K Patil was miffed that the waiver would not benefit farmers from northern parts of Karnataka. “How will it help if the waiver covers only defaulters,” Patil is said to have asked. “Tell me, Parameshwara, since you nod to everything Kumaraswamy says, are you aware of what this means for the party?”

Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar told reporters after the CLP meet that they discussed preparedness for the Lok Sabha elections. “We urged our leaders to work with discipline,” he said. “They were also asked to actively participate in legislature sessions and work together as a team.”