Karnataka - Madikeri   

Jivijaya's exclusion causes discontent

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI, DEC. 19. The non-inclusion of B.A. Jivijaya, MLA from Somwarpet, in the ministry has led to widespread discontent among Congress workers, particularly in Somwarpet taluk. Mr. Jivjaya is the only Congress MLA from the district.

Workers of the party in Shanivarasante hobli courted arrest over the issue on Saturday. Members of the zilla, taluk and gram panchayats from the Congress have threatened to resign.

The Congress workers allege that Kodagu is being ignored by the State Government. Mr. Jivijaya had defeated a strong Bharatiya Janata Party candidate in the Assembly elections. Kodagu should have its own district in-charge as Ministers from elsewhere will not understand the burning issues of the district, they said in memorandum submitted to the national- and State-level party leaders.

Surprise

Even the Opposition parties were not averse to Mr. Jivijaya becoming a Minister since he is a local candidate and an experienced politician.

There were three Ministers from Kodagu during the S.M. Krishna regime: M.M. Nanaiah from Madikeri; Suma Vasant from Virajpet; and T. John, MLC. The district-wise representation of Ministers appears to have been ignored. There is no representation to almost all Malnad districts.

The view that some Congress leaders from Kodagu had opposed Mr. Jivijaya's inclusion has been dismissed by the MLA himself.

"My name was in the list till 8 p.m. a day prior to the expansion,'' Mr. Jivijaya says. He too was surprised by his exclusion. However, as MLA, he will work for the development of his constituency.

The MLA's exclusion will certainly have an impact on the prospects of the Congress in the panchayat elections, Congress workers say on condition of anonymity.

According to them, this assumes significance in the wake of the strength gained by the group led by C.S. Arun Machaiah, MLC, in Virajpet taluk.

Congress rebels defeated official party candidates in the Virajpet Town Panchayat and taluk panchayat elections. Some Congress workers says that the Minister of State for Labour and Haj, Tanvir Sait, who has been given charge of Kodagu district, will not be able to do justice to the district.

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