Congress list for 20 seats ready, yet to find Kolar candidate

BENGALURU: The ruling Congress on Saturday released the names of 20 candidates for forthcoming polls to 25 seats of the Legislative Council, but found it tough to arrive at a consensus on whom to contest from Kolar-Chikkaballapur constituency.

The contestant for this constituency would be chosen by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dr G. Parameshwar. Mr Siddaramaiah held several rounds of discussions with leaders including former Union minister K.H. Muniyappa, former Speaker, K. R. Ramesh Kumar, independent MLA Varthuru Prakash and several others for the last three days as he was keen to field Mr G H Nagaraja, son-in-law of former Union minister Mr  R.L. Jalappa.

On Saturday, Mr Jalappa too met the Chief Minister to hand over a cheque for Rs 1 crore cheque towards the relief fund for victims of floods in Tamil Nadu, and used the opportunity to  discuss the strategy to field the former’s son-in-law from this seat.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior Congress leader said “Mr Siddaramaiah has been trying very hard to evolve consensus among leaders from Kolar-Chikkaballapura constituency including former Union ministers, M. Veerappa Moily and K.H. Muniyappa. Apart from this, former Speaker K. R. Ramesh Kumar and deputy Speaker, Shivashankar Reddy, too, figured in the discussions.”

The leader added that Mr Muniyappa reportedly batted in favour of Kolar district party president, Bise Gowda stating that Kolar parliamentary constituency reserved for the Scheduled Castes, there was no Vokkaliga representation.

Therefore, it would be better if the party fields a leader from Vokkaliga community instead of one belonging to the backward castes (Mr Nagaraja).

“Kolar had been adequately represented by backward class leaders and minorities. Therefore, it would be appropriate for Vokkaligas to be given ticket from this constituency,” the leader quoted Mr Muniyappa as saying at the meeting.

Former Speaker of the Assembly Ramesh Kumar too reportedly expressed similar views, but backed another another Vokkaliga leader instead of Mr Bise Gowda.

Meanwhile, after meeting the Chief Minister, Mr Muniyappa told reporters that he would never “object” to the decision of party central leaders over selection of candidate for the Kolar-Chikkaballapura constituency.

“I have been in Congress party for more than four decades and I know how it functions,” Mr Muniyappa added.

Ruling party sticks to its stand on seats

The ruling Congress stuck to its stand of contesting single seats in four of the five districts except Hubballi-Dharwad, where party could have fielded two candidates each.

Both seats in Hubballi-Dharwad are represented by Congress candidates — Srinivasa Mane and Nagaraj Chabbi — therefore, the party decided to field them both.

“Mr Srinivasa Mane has completed his six-year term where as Mr Nagaraj Chabbi had completed just 18-month term.

“However, the latter was considered as giant killer, as he had defeated, leader of the Opposition in the lesilative Assembly Jagadish Shettar’s younger brother, Pradeep Shettar,” explained sources in the party.

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