PCC rejig: Annoyed netas to meet Rahul Gandhi
The KPCC president referred to the efforts made by Mr Muniyappa to secure more representation for his Madiga community.
Bengaluru: Even after constituting a jumbo size office bearers committee comprising 171 leaders, rumbling within the Congress are likely to explode when AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi visits the city on July 21 to attend a seminar on Dr Ambedkar.
Speaking to DC, a senior leader disclosed that leaders such as Kolar MP K.H. Muniyappa and a section of Vokkaliga MLAs led by Yeshwanpur MLA S.T. Somashekhar are likely to meet him and contend that that their respective communities — Madigas and Vokkaligas — got a raw deal during the recent shake-up within the party organization.
Another leader added that Mr Muniyappa who had been vigorously trying his best to emerge as the sole champion of Madigas, is trying to grab headlines by raking up this issue. “Mr Gandhi’s visit to attend the seminar on Dr Ambedkar gives Mr Muniyappa all the more reason to keep this issue alive. Most of these voices of dissent will end once Mr Gandhi goes back to Delhi as it is unlikely that the AICC will agree to a further expansion of the party organisation which comprises of 171 leaders. This is the first time that our state has got so many office bearers,” the source explained.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters KPCC president, Dr G. Parameshwar stated that according his knowledge, this was the biggest ever committee the party unit has got. “Among the 171, there are 17 vice-presidents, 57 general secretaries and 96 secretaries. Above all, this is the first time that about 33 women have got place in the committee. Age wise, as many as 19 are under the age of 40, this according to me is a fairly balanced committee, where the young, the experienced and women are represented in a most reasonable manner,” he said.
The KPCC president referred to the efforts made by Mr Muniyappa to secure more representation for his Madiga community. “I have spoken to Mr Muniyappa and he has assured me that he will not rebel against the party decision. What we all know is that not everyone can be accommodated in a committee like this but we are making efforts to rope in all disgruntled leaders by assigning them various responsibilities within the party framework. There are no dearth of opportunities in the Congress as elections are coming, with so much party work, we will need more people,” he said.