From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 13: KPCC president D K Shivakumar termed former BJP minister Ramesh Jarakiholi as a ‘’mental case’’ and refused to react to the latter’s criticism and indicated that the final decision on Congress party’s list of candidates for the ensuing assembly polls will be taken on March 17.
Speaking to media persons here on Monday, he said the BJP leader’s comment that Congress under Shivakumar would lead to a toll tax on the entire State and made it clear that the party is not interested in talking about other things, except levy of toll on the incomplete Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway without the necessary service roads.
"Ramesh Jarakiholi has lost mental balance and has made it a habit of talking whatever comes to his mind after losing his ministership oer the sex CD,’’ he said. The ruling party and its leaders should first concentrate on its internal matters before commenting on other parties, he said.
Shivakumar said he would not like to talk on leaders, who level baseless allegations against Congress party leaders.
The KPCC chief said Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the incomplete Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway without the necessary service roads to beat the commencement of the electoral code of conduct, which was likely to be announced soon and asserted collection of toll tax without completion.
To a question on the demand for allotting the party ticket to deceased KPCC Working President Dhruvanarayana’s son, the KPCC chief said Dhruvanarayana was close to AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge and the party will take an appropriate decision.
"Dhruvanarayana was a committed leader and a dedicated person. His death is a big loss to the party,’’ he said.
Answering questions, he said the Congress Election Committee will be meeting on March 16 and the final decision on selection of the list of party candidates will be taken on March 17.
Asked about the prime minister greeting rowdysheeter and fighter Ravi at Mandya with folded hands, Shivakumar said Modi is free to do anything in his BJP. "Let them greet fighter Ravi or Santro Ravi and even admit them and other rowdysheeters or others accused of corruption and scams into the BJP,’’ he said refusing to comment on the issue further.
On prime minister’s promise to transform Mandya into a model district, Shivakumar said the entire country knows what happened in India during the last nine years. The people know better and take their own decisions, he said.
Shivakumar later proceeded to Nagamangala and participated in the Praja Dhwani Yatra and distributed guarantee cards on the Congress party’s poll promises to women and others.