Congress to slap notice on ex-minister Tanveer Sait

The party will issue a show-cause notice to Tanveer Sait, asking him to explain the turn of events in Mysuru mayoral election

Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said that the party will issue a show-cause notice to former minister Tanveer Sait, asking him to explain the turn of events in last week’s Mysuru mayoral election.

In the Mysuru mayoral election, the Congress was to get the top post as per its understanding with the JD(S). In a twist to the plot, the JD(S) bagged the mayor’s seat. This has left the Congress divided. Sait, who represents the Narasimharaja constituency in Mysuru, is in the dock on this issue.

“We are issuing a notice to (Sait) through our disciplinary committee,” Shivakumar told reporters. “The Congress should have bagged the mayor’s post. This was an order by (Congress Legislature Party leader) Siddaramaiah and me. But what happened and why, we’re asking (Sait) to explain,” he added.

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Describing Congress as a party of discipline, Shivakumar said “whoever it may be”, no act of disrespect will be tolerated.

The mayoral poll outcome is widely seen as an extension of factionalism within the Congress. Siddaramaiah is said to be especially hurt and angry with what happened.

On his part, Sait defended the poll result and said it was done to keep the BJP out of power. But the Congress having let go of the mayor’s post is seen as an act of indiscipline.

Earlier in the day, AICC secretary Madhu Goud Yaskhi arrived in the city to hold meeting with both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. Apparently, Siddaramaiah refused to take it lying down and demanded Yaskhi to initiate action against Sait

Speaking to reporters, Yaskhi said the party’s disciplinary committee headed by former Union minister K Rahman Khan had been asked to take action against any violation of discipline. “Be it Tanveer Sait or someone else, any sloganeering against the CLP leader won’t be tolerated,” Yaskhi said.

On Monday, pro-Congress Muslims staged a protest in Raichur against Siddaramaiah in support of Sait. “I came to know about the Raichur protest. We will deal with it strictly,” Yaskhi added.