The Hindu : Karnataka News : Move to give Prakash ticket opposed

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Wednesday, Mar 12, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Move to give Prakash ticket opposed

Staff Correspondent

Congress leaders say local candidates should be given preference

Prakash forced to look elsewhere as his home constituency has now been reserved
Harpanahalli has been a Congress stronghold since 1952

DAVANGERE: Congress leaders and workers have demanded that the former Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash not be given ticket to contest the polls from Harpanahalli constituency. They sought greater opportunities for local party leaders, who had worked hard to establish the party in the region.

The Harpanahalli segment, which was a reserved constituency for the last 41 years, has now been made specifically for general category candidates to contest. In the wake of this change, the executive committee meeting of the Harpanahalli block Congress was convened on Monday, to discuss strategies for the forthcoming Assembly elections. Mr. Prakash, whose home constituency was Hoovinahadagali in Bellary district, has been forced to try his luck elsewhere, as the constituency has been reserved for Scheduled Castes. Mr. Prakash has since been on the lookout for an ideal place to contest the polls.

He is said to be keen to contest from Harpanahalli in Davangere district, which has triggered strong resentment among local party workers. Harpanahalli has been a Congress stronghold since 1952.

Congress leader Telagi Hanumanthappa, urged the party high command to give ticket to a deserving local candidate, instead of an outsider. President of the taluk Congress Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Cell Mariappa, said Mr. Prakash had opposed the Congress in this region all these years, but was now beginning to show political ambition and desire. It was unfair to give an outsider such opportunities, he said.

He further said people from the general category had supported the Scheduled Caste candidates so far, and had even worked for their victory in previous elections. He said it was imperative that general category candidates were now supported as a token of appreciation.

Senior Congress leader Chandrashekar Bhat said it was but natural that all senior party leaders, who had worked hard all these years, desired an opportunity to contest the polls. However, whatever decision taken by the party high command will have to be accepted, he added. Party welfare should transcend personal interests, Mr. Bhat said. Block Congress president Chidanandappa, who presided over the meeting, felt that local leaders should be given priority, and added that opinions of the leaders would be conveyed to the party seniors.

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