The Hindu : Khandre yet to decide on his political future

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 22, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Khandre yet to decide on his political future

By Our Staff Correspondent

BIDAR, MARCH 21. It appears that the former Minister from Bhalki, Bheemanna Khandre, has not decided on a course of action though the Congress has revoked his expulsion from the party.

However, in a statement issued on Friday, he thanked the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi, for revoking his expulsion from the party and described the decision as a "victory for truth." According to him, her direction to the State unit to readmit him and members of his family has vindicated his stand.

Family sources say that he will remain active in politics. He remains a force to reckon with in Bidar district, particularly Bhalki.

He will continue to have an impact on the electoral fortunes of the Congress candidates in constituencies such as Bhalki, Humnabad, which borders Bhalki and Hulsoor, sources say.

Mr. Khandre's family is also expected to have considerable influence on the Lok Sabha election scene.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's Ramachandra Veerappa is said to have sought the support of Mr. Bheemanna Khandre. Mr. Ramachandra does not deny this. "What is wrong in a member of one political party helping a member of another political party?" he asked when The Hindu posed the question to him.

Mr. Bheemanna Khandre's re-entry into the Congress may have come with a rider that one of his sons will be fielded for the Bhalki seat. Mr. Khandre's elder son, Vijay Kumar, represented the constituency for two terms from 1989.

His younger son, Eshwar, is said to have opposed his re-entry into the Congress.

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