Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Jul 16: Discontentment is predominantly visible within Congress party in the state as many leaders are unhappy over the long list of new office bearers of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) recently released by the national leadership of the party. Although things look normal on the face of it, anger that is brewing within might spill into the open anytime now.
As per information gathered, several veteran leaders of the party have openly criticized the style of functioning of KPCC president, Dr G Parameshwara, and in-charge of Congress affairs in the state, K C Venugopal. Allegedly, KPCC working president, S R Patil, as well as minister and president of election campaign committee, D K Shivakumar, are angry at the fact that these two leaders, who had collected list of recommendations from other leaders, never held discussions with anyone before finalizing the list by accommodating people of their choice. Both these leaders, who poured out their dissatisfaction in their telephonic conversations with K C Venugopal, told him in no uncertain terms that Parameshwara is not the only undisputed leader in the state and opinions of other leaders should be respected if the partynurses hopes of coming back to power in the state.
The leaders told Venugopal that they are angry at the release of the list without taking them into confidence beforehand or holding consultations with them. They are said to have told Venugopal that they propose to bring this issue up with national vice president of the party, Rahul Gandhi.
As per information, out of a ten-member list comprising leaders from north Karnataka provided by S R Patil, only two have been accommodated while five out of 50 recommended by Shivakumar have been given organizational positions. Out of a list of 35 recommended by the other working president of KPCC, Dinesh Gundu Rao, only five have found themselves in the final list.
However, addressing a press conference here on Saturday July 15, KPCC president, Dr G Parameshwara, dismissed talk of simmering discontentment in the party. "Because it is election year, the high command of the party has released a big list of office bearers. I too feel that it is oversized but because of forthcoming election, representation has been given to all sections," he clarified. He explained that youngsters, women, senior citizens and other classes have been included when making the list of 171 office bearers. He said that no one including former union minister, K H Muniyappa, have expressed unhappiness about the list as reported by the media, and promised to give some other responsibilities to those who did not find a place in the list.
He informed that Rahul Gandhi will be visiting the city on July 21 to take part in the international convention being held to celebrate 125th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar.