Karnataka - Raichur   

Discontent in Raichur DCC over ticket allotment

D. Kishan Rao

Party workers disgruntled following resignation of president of Raichur Rural Block Congress

RAICHUR: The Raichur District Congress Committee (DCC) appears to be in trouble. President of the Raichur Rural Block Congress A. Vasanthkumar has resigned protesting against the denial of party ticket to his followers to contest in the zilla and taluk panchayat elections.

A group of party workers, who supported Mr. Vasanthkumar, have also decided to keep away from the election.

However, DCC President A. Venkatesh Naik and former DCC President and Political Secretary to the Chief Minister N.S. Bose Raju have defended the procedure adopted in the allotment of party ticket.

Both the leaders said they took the decision as per the guidelines of the party high command.

According to the guidelines issued to them, they said the former MLAs of the party had the responsibility of choosing candidates and distributing the ticket in their respective Assembly segements.

Raja Amareshwara Naik, former Minister, was asked to look after Kalamal Assembly segment; Syed Yasin, former MLA, Raichur Assembly segment; Basawaraj Patil Anwari, former Union Minister, Lingsugur Assembly segment; and Hadarli Hampangouda, Sindhanur MLA, Sindhanur Assembly segment.

They were advised to take all workers into confidence while finalising the list of contestants, sources said.

A group of party workers allege that Mr. Amareshwara Naik and Mr. Yasin favoured candidates who are not loyal to the Congress indicating that both entertained horse trading while allotting ticket.

Mr. Vasanthkumar, said to be a staunch follower of Mr. Raju, preferred to field some of his followers for Atkur and Singnodi taluk panchayats seats.

However, Mr. Yasin allotted the ticket to his loyalists, including Chandrabanda zilla panchayat seat from where Baidoddi Ramu is contesting.

Mr. Venkatesh Naik and Mr. Raju refused to interfere with the decisions taken by Mr. Amareshwara Naik and Mr. Yasin.

This forced Mr. Vasanthkumar to submit his resignation. He told The Hindu that he will be remain in the party as a worker and contribute for the success of the party candidates.

A few senior Congress leaders, including Parasmal Sukhani, former member of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Executive Committee, and K. Shanthappa, former chairman of Raichur Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee, have expressed displeasure over the way the DCC has allotted ticket to party workers.

Mr. Sukhani and Mr. Shanthappa said the DCC should have taken all workers and leaders into confidence before finalising the allotment of ticket to get support from everyone within the party circle.

The DCC has to take the initiative to settle differences within the party and fight the elections united, they added.

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