The Hindu : Karnataka News : Stage set for electing new KPCC president

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 11, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Stage set for electing new KPCC president

Special Correspondent

AICC in favour of harmonious relations with JD (S)

BANGALORE: The Congress leadership at the national level is stated to be in favour of choosing a Pradesh Congress President who can ensure harmonious relations with the coalition partner in the State, the Janata Dal (Secular).

With the re-election of Sonia Gandhi as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) President, the stage is now set for electing a new president for the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). It is also being stated that considering the dip in the fortunes of the party in the northern States and also Kerala, the AICC is not in favour of the disturbing the coalition here.

Likely candidates

Among the names doing the rounds for the State party presidentship are those of the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, H.K. Patil, the former Minister, G. Parameshwara, the former Minister, D.B. Chandre Gowda, the Union Minister of State for Planning, M.V. Rajashekaran, and the Pradesh Congress Committee Treasurer, Shyamanur Shivashankarappa.

To opt for Lingayat?

There is stated to be a view that the Congress should opt for a Lingayat to the post as the party has alienated itself from that caste group in recent years. It is also noted that the Lingayats supported the Congress candidate, Ayanur Manjunath, in the recent Shimoga Lok Sabha byelection, although he lost to S. Bangarappa of the Samajwadi Party.

Dr. Parameshwara is the only Congress candidate to be elected to the State Assembly from Tumkur district and is qualified with a Ph.D in Agriculture from a university in Australia.

Expectation

There is also expectation in the party circles that one or two from the State will be appointed to the Union Council of Ministers. The names of the first-time MP from the State and television journalist, Tejaswini Sriramesh, the film star Ambarish, the AICC Secretary, B.K. Hariprasad, are being mentioned. In view of his seniority, the name of the State unit President, Janardhana Poojary, a former Union Minister, is in circulation.

Immediate cause

The defeat of the party candidates in Shimoga and Chamarajpet is also being cited as a reason for electing a new State unit President in the place of Mr. Poojary, whose relations with the Janata Dal (S) leadership have always been stormy.

Ms. Tejaswini has impressed the party leadership with her good performance in the Lok Sabha.

Hardliners blamed

Sources in the party blame the hardliners who are hostile towards the Janata Dal (S) leaders for the failure to leave the Chamarajpet Assembly seat to the coalition partner.

The entry of the Janata Dal (S) candidate in the Shimoga byelection has cost the Congress dear, it is noted.

The names of the party MLC and former State cricketer, Prakash Rathod, and the MLA from Holalkere in Chitradurga district, Umapathy, are being mentioned again for appointment to the two vacancies in the State Ministry.

Mr. Rathod is also one of the KPCC general secretaries.

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