Apart from CM, party bigwigs Parameshwar, Hariprasad, D.K. Shivakumar had final say on Cong list
Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala felicitates a freedom fighter at an event to mark the 73nd anniversary of the Quit India Movement at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru on Sunday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is seen (Photo: KPN)
Bengaluru: After much dilly-dallying and three days of high drama, the Congress party finally announced its list of 197 candidates for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections on Sunday. It is reliably learnt that only four leaders - Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, president Dr G. Parameshwar, AICC general secretary B.K. Hariprasad and energy minister D.K. Shivakumar - had the final say in the selection of candidates.
Unlike in the past, transport minister and Bengaluru district in-charge minister Ramalinaga Reddy, Bengaluru DCC president Dinesh R. Gundurao, infrastructure minister R. Roshan Baig and home minister K.J. George reportedly confined themselves to their respective constituencies while strongly batting for the choices made by other MLAs and defeated MLA candidates in the city.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader in the Congress disclosed that Mr Siddaramaiah, armed with an intelligence report, did not budge an inch from his decision while handing out tickets.
“The CM was on the lookout for candidates with strong winnability prospects. Irrespective of MLAs’ views, the CM did not hesitate to instruct Pulikeshinagar strongman and former MLA B. Prasannakumar, who had vehemently opposed the candidature of corporators Zakir Hussain and Samapath Raj, to allow them to contest.”
Even the fact that Mr Prasannakumar got himself admitted to a hospital complaining of chest pain Saturday night, did not deter Mr Siddarmaiah from announcing these two ‘winnable’ names.
He offered to resolve the differences that had cropped up between Mr Prasananakuamr and the two corporators. By doing this, the CM showed his determination to ensure only winnable candidates made it to the list, a source explained. Mr Siddaramaiah also used the opportunity to drive home a point that he was firmly in control of affairs both in the party and government. “Apart from Mr Siddaramaiah, AICC general secretary B.K. Hariprasad, energy minister D.K. Shivakumar and KPCC president Dr Parameshwar made sure their supporters got tickets. Surprisingly, ministers from the city and bigwigs - Mr Reddy, Mr Rao, Mr Baig and Mr George - restricted themselves to their constituencies,” the source added.
The source also claimed that all four ministers strongly batted for the candidates suggested by local leaders and defeated MLAs but at the last minute backed the ‘unanimous’ decision announced by Mr Siddaramaiah.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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