Kodagu JD(S) chief warns of expelling rebel leaders

JD(S) district committee president K M Ganesh has warned of expelling leaders and workers who carry out anti-party activities.

Addressing reporters in Madikeri on Friday, he said that he was appointed to the position of party’s district president by the party high command.

He said that he will fulfil his responsibilities accordingly and will work towards strengthening the party.

“One should respect the decision of the party supremo. Those who have been opposing my appointment as the JD(S) district president should understand that there is only a month to go for Lok Sabha elections. However, there will be no second thought on expunging the leaders who carry out activities against the party. The party has recognised me. My next aim is to strive for the victory of JD(S) candidates, in the leadership of party state president H Vishwanath,” said Ganesh.

He further stated that efforts will be taken to bring back those who have quit the party due to various reasons in the past. It has been decided to expand the presence of the party from Kodlipet to Kutta and also from Koppa to Sampaje.

A ten-member committee will be formed in every booth and a meeting of booth committee members will be held in Kodlipet shortly.

JD(S) former district president Sanket Poovaiah said that differences of opinion exist in every party. However, JD(S) believes in handing over responsibilities to honest and eligible workers.

Stating that the problems of growers affected by the fall of market rates of coffee and pepper have not been solved despite submitting a memorandum to the Central government, Poovaiah pointed out that the issue has not been discussed in the parliament seriously.

There is a need for a parliament member who can raise the issues of coffee growers, he added.

‘Ganesh should step down’

Meanwhile, JD(S) state vice president Manoj Bopaiah said, “If JD(S) district president K M Ganesh does not tender his resignation within three days, a meeting will be convened under the leadership of former minister B A Jeevijaya in Kushalnagar and a memorandum will be submitted to the party high command.”

He said that the appointment of Ganesh as the JD(S) district president has come as a shocker to honest JD(S) workers.

“Ganesh has gained a backdoor entry with the support of a handful of his followers,” he alleged.

Manoj further lamented that senior JD(S) leader B A Jeevijaya’s opinion was not consulted while appointing the district president even though he was an honest party worker with an experience of four decades in politics.

He asked whether K M Ganesh is capable of expelling a senior leader like Jeevijaya from the party.

JD(S) state ST cell president Raja Rao said that Ganesh had allegedly carried out anti-party activities during last Assembly elections.