SHIMOGA: The uncertainty over the holding of the district-level Congress convention here on Thursday has been removed following the tenuous "truce" brought about between the two factions in the District Congress Committee (DCC) — one led by the former Minister and senior party leader, Kagodu Thimmappa, and the other by the Congress MLA from Sorab and former Minister, Kumar Bangarappa.

The convention, which will be presided over by the Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh, will be addressed by among others the KPCC President M. Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Ministers and party workers.

Both Mr. Thimmappa and Mr. Kumar Bangarappa sought to make common cause by addressing a press conference here on Tuesday in a bid to claim that their differences have been ironed out.

Reacting sharply to a question posed to him whether there has been a "ceasefire", Mr. Kumar Bangarappa denied that he had any serious differences with Mr. Thimmappa. "Whatever differences I have with Mr. Thimmappa are only temporary and they are issue-based," he said.

Mr. Kumar Bangarappa acknowledging Mr. Thimmappa's seniority in the party said, "There may be minor differences in the party. But we are all united in the party."

Asked whether there has been any shift in his demand for the reconstitution of the DCC, Mr. Kumar Bangarappa replied in the negative and hoped that it would be done after the taluk and zilla panchayat elections.

Mr. Thimmappa was reticent when Mr. Kumar Bangarappa was reacting to the questions relating to his differences with him.

There was a difference of opinion between Mr. Thimmappa and Mr. Bangarappa over the holding of the party workers convention. The main reason for Mr. Kumar Bangarappa opposing it was that there was no meaning in holding the convention unless the DCC was reconstituted, which was opposed by Mr. Thimmappa asserting that the DCC is the legitimate body and that the convention will be held under its leadership only.

Reacting to Mr. Kumar Bangarappa's views on the convention, Mr. Thimmappa recently told a press conference here that party workers were free to express their views. "But if they cross the `Lakshman Rekha' the party knows how to deal with them," he had said.

Now that the differences between Mr. Thimmappa and Mr. Bangarappa are said to have been sorted out, the clouds hovering over the convention seem to have been blown over.

Nearly one lakh workers from all over the district are expected to attend the convention which will discuss development issues in the district, according to Mr. Thimmappa. He said the party workers had been asked to make a list of important works to be taken up in their areas.

A reception committee led by Mr. Thimmappa has been formed. The former Minister, D.B. Chandregowda, and former MP, K.C. Kondaiah, who visited here to oversee the preparations for the convention, told the party workers to stand united sinking their differences.

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