Inamdar resignation a pressure tactic?

Belagavi: Upset over the Congress's reluctance to announce its candidate for Kittur, its five-time legislator from the constituency and sitting MLA, D B Inamdar has resigned from the party. While he has sent in his resignation to KPCC president, Dr G Parameshwar, the party is reportedly undecided on accepting it.

A senior leader of the party, Mr Inamdar has held several important portfolios as a cabinet minister in the past.  He has so far been considered the party's only popular leader in Kittur and was fielded from the constituency without hassle in all the eight assembly elections since 1983. He lost to Mr Babagouda Patil of the BJP in 1989 and to Mr Suresh Marihal of the BJP in 2004 and 2008 , but remained the party's lone choice for Kittur.

In recent times, however, his nephew, Babasaheb Patil has  emerged as another popular Congress leader from Kittur constituency,  hampering his prospects. The former has been lobbying for the party ticket contending that Mr Inamdar is no longer as active in politics as he was some years ago and has lost touch with the people of his constituency as he stayed in Bengaluru a lot of the time.

The Congress high command is said to be in a dilemma owing to pressure from Mr Patil and his supporters. While Mr Inamdar announced his resignation before the media, he has not held talks as yet with party leaders in Belagavi district on his reasons. Some Congress leaders believe his resignation  is a pressure tactic to bag the party ticket and checkmate his nephew.