JDS candidate to contest from Shivamogga: Dinesh Gundu Rao
Bengaluru, October 15: KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao said that as per the decision of Congress-JDS coalition leaders, Madhu Bangarappa of JDS would fight it out against BJP candidate in Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency by-election with the support of the Congress.
Speaking to reporters at KPCC office here on Monday, Dinesh Gundu Rao said that Congress-JDS combine candidates would contest from three Lok Sabha and two Assembly constituencies in the by-election. Both Congress and JDS leaders would campaign together and all the leaders would be present during nomination filing. The Congress and JDS candidates would win in all the constituencies. In the last election, the Congress had got 4.28 lakh votes, BJP got 5.83 lakh votes and JDS got 2.51 lakh votes in Shivamogga where the Congress-JDS members were more in all local bodies. So, the local candidate would play a major role in this election, he said.
The Congress and JDS would win majority seats out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections to oust the BJP which is detrimental to the country. In South India, the BJP has some strength in Karnataka. So, the Congress and JDS have their own strategy to counter the BJP, he said.
The decision was taken after taking former ministers Kagodu Thimmappa and Kimmane Rathnakar, MLA B.K. Sangameshwar into confidence to give up the seat to JDS. Minister R.V. Deshpande was nominated as incharge for Shivamogga constituency, while K.J. George for Mandya, D.K. Shivakumar for Ballary, Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar for Jamakhandi, MP D.K. Suresh for Ramanagar constituencies, he said.
‘The anti-people government at the centre is curtailing the freedom of people. No one can express their opinions freely. It has created fear and intolerance in the country. The Prime Minister himself has involved in corruption. It is an open secret that the HAL management has been suppressing its employees over Rafale fighter jets deal’.
- Dinesh Gundu Rao, KPCC President
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Have no personal involvement in Cong’s action against some minority leaders: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said he has no personal involvement in action taken against certain Congress leaders from the minority community following allegations of an internal conspiracy during the recently held Davanagere South bypolls.
He clarified that the decisions were taken by the party high command based on available reports.
Asserting that party discipline is of utmost importance, Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, sought to downplay concerns that action against minority leaders may send the message that “Muslims are being targeted.”
“I don’t have any personal involvement in this. Whatever decisions are taken are made by the party leadership. The party has its own reports. Decisions regarding MLAs or MLCs cannot be taken at the state level without instructions from Delhi,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, he added, “People may blame me; I am not concerned. Everyone must function in accordance with party discipline.”
Responding to concerns within sections of the party that recent actions may convey the impression that minority leaders are being targeted, he said the Congress exists for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, backward classes, farmers, and all sections of society.
The Congress has suspended MLC K Abdul Jabbar from primary membership and relieved another MLC, Naseer Ahmed, from the post of Chief Minister’s political secretary.
The action followed allegations by a group of Muslim leaders that certain party members conspired to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
Following the action, speculation has emerged that Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan may also face disciplinary measures during the next cabinet reshuffle.
The three leaders had reportedly sought a Muslim candidate for the Davanagere South bypoll ticket, which the party instead allotted to the late MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s grandson, Samarth Mallikarjun.
They were also said to have not actively participated in the campaign.
Shivakumar also rejected claims of factionalism within the ruling party amid speculation that leaders close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were being targeted.
Naseer Ahmed and Zameer Ahmed Khan are considered close to the CM.
Rejecting allegations of factionalism within the party, Shivakumar said, “We speak to each other every day. It is the media that creates divisions. Where is my faction? Has anyone put up a board saying they belong to the Siddaramaiah faction? Have I put up any such board?”
“All 139 legislators are my people, and they are all Siddaramaiah’s people as well. Everyone belongs to the Congress,” he added, saying there are no factions within the party and that such claims are media-driven.
Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi met Shivakumar on Friday, a day after expressing concerns that disciplinary action against minority leaders may send the wrong message.
Shivakumar said he discussed with Jarkiholi the need to decongest Bengaluru traffic by diverting vehicles entering the city from state and national highways, along with party-related issues.
“We also discussed political matters in the interest of the party and the need to work together,” he said.
Later, speaking to reporters, Jarkiholi said he discussed with Shivakumar the issue of withdrawing Jabbar’s suspension. He said he will also visit New Delhi next week to meet the high command and discuss state developments.
“Jabbar’s suspension was discussed (with Shivakumar). It should be withdrawn. Let’s issue him a notice and allow him to reply. Then let’s send the report to the high command and seek their approval. High command approval is necessary because the instructions came from there. It may take some time,” he said.
Stating that he met the KPCC chief for “damage control,” the minister said, “We have tried to convince him. Sometimes certain decisions happen that need rectification.”
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