H K Patil is KPCC campaign panel chief

The Congress on Saturday appointed senior leader and former minister H K Patil as chairman of the campaign committee for Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has approved the name of H K Patil as chairman of the campaign committee for KPCC in place of Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar with immediate effect, said a press statement issued by Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot here.

Patil, veteran Congress leader, was earlier lobbying hard for a berth in the JD(S)-Congress coalition government or the KPCC president's post. Though he was once considered for the KPCC post, the Congress top brass finally appointed former minister Dinesh Gundu Rao for the post as part of Rahul's plan to promote youth leaders.

However, a couple of days ago, Gandhi summoned Patil to Delhi and asked him to take the responsibility of the campaign committee chairman.

Patil will have the responsibility to steer the party campaign in the state during the Lok Sabha polls due in April-May.

"This post is more important than a ministerial position. It is a challenging responsibility. The party has rewarded me duly for serving it loyally for 30 years. I thank both Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal for this," he told DH.

Patil said he may have been considered for the post as the party was trying to set right the injustice meted out to North Karnataka MLAs.

To start with, Patil said he would speak to all the disgruntled MLAs who have not been given any post. The committee comprises DCC presidents, chiefs of the party’s organisations, AICC office-bearers and members of parliament in both Houses.