Congress is a divided house in Chikkamagaluru

It seems all is not well in the District Congress Committee as a section of party leaders and workers is coming out with varied opinions.

Some leaders are said to be indulging in a show of strength while others actively involved in organisational works, said the party workers, who aired their woes before KPCC president and District In-charge Minister G Parameshwara.

Anand, a party worker from Kadur, said the party has no use of leaders who indulge in a show of strength. The party has to identify honest workers and give responsibilities to them, he said.

Seva Dal president Kote Anand said the party has received a boost following the victory of party nominees in the recently concluded byelections. DCC president D L Vijaykumar is travelling on two boats. He heads the Congress party here and has also been elected recently as the president of the Zilla Vokkaligara Sangha. As the Sangha belongs to a community, he may not be able to do social justice. It will be better for him to quit one of the two posts. In case he quits the party position, the others in the line will be given an opportunity, he felt.

Pavan, another party worker, said organisational activities should be given a due preference ahead of the polls.The party workers should be trained on various issues to take on the Centre by highlighting its failures and boost the image of the state government by highlighting its successful programmes, he added.

CMC member Hiremagalur Puttaswamy said, “There are hard feelings against many leaders who do lip service. When the new chairman of Chikkamagaluru Urban Development Authority (CDA) assumed office, most of the leaders stayed away. Such nonchalant attitude has dented unity in the party.”

Blunders of BJP govt
M L Murthy, DCC’s former president, suggested the government should highlight the blunders committed by previous BJP-led government in the state. When BJP government was in power, APL cards had been issued to poor and BPL cards to elite families. The party should disclose the inert administration of the previous government by releasing such cards in fair price shops, Murthy said.

Former MLC Gayatri Shanthegowda, who is accused of violating protocol by distributing the cheque from chief minister’s relief fund to a beneficiary woman without taking the sitting legislators into confidence, sought to clarify that she could not say no when the officials insisted on handing over the cheque for facilitating the case.

She also claimed to have clarified to the officials in this regard, following a complaint by BJP leaders.
Parameshwara, who collected the opinions of the party workers, asked them to work in unity in the interest of the party in the district. He agreed that there is lack of unity in the organisation that has proved hurdle in smooth functioning of the party.