Rebellion erupts within Congress, protests at many places

A day after the Congress party announced its first list of 218 candidates for the May 12 Assembly elections, rebellion erupted in many constituencies as supporters of ticket aspirants, sitting MLAs and former MLAs took to streets staging violent protests.

In Bagalkot, supporters of minister R B Thimmapur, staged a protest in front of KPCC working president S R Patil's residence.

They raised slogans against Patil for denying the ticket to their leader and abused state leaders in foul language. The ITBP personnel tightened security in and around Patil's residence.

In Lingsguru, workers of dalit associations staged a protest charging that the Congress party did not give the ticket to dalits from Lingasguru constituency which was reserved for SC.

In Chikkamagaluru, a section of the party workers went berserk, damaging furniture at the party office protesting the denial of the ticket to Gayatri Shanthegowda.

In Mandya, supporters of Ravi Kumar Gowda Ganiga ransacked the party office damaging furniture and destroying window panes.

In Byadagi, supporters of MLA Basavaraj Shivannavar came to the street and staged a protest against the high command's decision.

In Hangal, supporters of Manohar Tahsildar came to the street and staged a protest.

In Siraguppa in Ballari district, supporters of MLA B M Nagaraj burnt the effigy of Minister Santosh Lad and expressed anger.

Krishnaji Kulkarni, a ticket aspirant from Gulbarga Dakshin, told reporters that he was hurt by the denial of the ticket.

"I have been a loyal party worker for the last 26 years. There is no value for loyalists in the party anymore. I will discuss with my supporters and decide the next move," he said.

"No candidate from the Brahmin community has been given the ticket in the entire Hyderabad-Karnataka region. The Congress party has meted out injustice to the Brahmin community," he charged.

S S Prakasham, President, Congress Party Labour Wing, virtually shed tears at a press meet in New Delhi.

"I fell at the feet many leaders for the ticket. I've been working for the unorganised sector for the last 40 years," he said.

He was an aspirant either from Rajajinagar and Shanthinagar Assembly segments in Bengaluru.

"I am a staunch follower of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, besides being a loyal worker. However, I have been ignored," he said.

Former MLA N Sampangi came down heavily on Chikkaballapur MP Veerappa Moily and the high command for rejecting him the ticket.

"I've been working for the party for the last 30 year. S N Subba Reddy, who connived to defeat the Congress party candidate in the 2013 Assembly elections, has been given the ticket. The high command considered money, but not loyalty," he charged.

He was an aspirant for the Bagepalli Assembly segment.