Digvijay Singh hears all but leaves final decision to Congress high command
Bengaluru: With just five days to go for submission of nomination forms, the scene of action shifted to New Delhi as leaders of the ruling Congress decided to secure go-ahead from central leaders on the contentious issue of selection of candidates for next month’s bypolls to Hebbal, Devadurga and Bidar Assembly constituencies.
This, despite unanimous selection of three candidates—Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's millionaire friend, Byrathi Suresh, MLC, (Hebbal), Rahim Khan (Bidar) and either son or wife of the late Devadurga MLA, Venkatesh Naik—by selection committees set up for each constituency.
Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Digvijay Singh, who arrived in the city on Thursday night, held a series of meetings with several leaders including Mr Siddaramaiah, KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar and Congress leader in Lok Sabha, M. Mallikarjuna Kharge, on Friday and was “thoroughly convinced” with the selection process. He, however, encountered resistance from former Union minister, C. K. Jaffer Sharieff, who has been lobbying to secure ticket for his grandson, Rehman Sharief. Speaking to the media after meeting Mr Singh, Mr Sharieff retorted that he would not like to belittle himself by seeking ticket for his grandson, but would like to lobby in favour of Muslim candidates. Meanwhile, Mr Singh asserted that he had not come across any major difference of opinion over the candidate selections, but as a time-tested ritual in Congress, the candidate would be selected in Delhi.
“The state unit has not recommended any official names to me as of now, but I am told by Mr Siddaramaiah and Dr Parameshwar that they will send the final list to Delhi on Monday. We will look in to it there. As we are in the ruling party, we find many aspirants, but we will surely field candidates chosen unanimously for all three constituencies. Once our leaders give their approval, everyone will fall in line,” he added. Dr Parameshwar said the party’s selection panels have unanimously recommended Mr Byrathi Suresh for Hebbal, Ms Savitramma for Devadurga and Mr Rahim Khan for Bidar constituencies. “We are awaiting final approval by leaders,” he added.
Muslim leaders: We have 60,000 voters in Hebbal
Even as CM Siddaramaiah, seemed set to field his multimillionaire friend and fellow Kuruba, Byrathi Suresh, in the bypoll to Hebbal Assembly constituency, senior Muslim leaders from the area met Congress general secretary, Digvijay Singh, and KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar on Thursday and Friday to “convince” them that a Muslim candidate should the party’s choice.
Speaking to DC, a leader said, “Almost all mosque committees that come under Hebbal constituency have signed a petition that the ticket for Hebbal constituency must be given to a Muslim rather than other community member. There are 30 mosques in this constituency which have signed a petition seeking ticket for a Muslim leader.” The leaders contended that as there are 60,000 Muslim voters, the party should field a Muslim. Meanwhile, veteran C.K. Jaffer Sharief stepped up pressure on the party to give the ticket to his grandson, Rehman Sharief. He called on Mr Digvijay Singh twice and conveyed his views. He reportedly told Mr Singh that Congress followed the convention to give tickets to candidates who lost by narrow margin in the previous election.
His supporters, who held a meeting at his residence on Friday requested him to contest the election if a section of state leaders felt that his grandson was a political novice.
He, however, encountered opposition from the camp led by K Rahman Khan. This group reportedly offered a formula that if the party decides to field Mr Suresh, now a member of the upper House, a Muslim should replace him in the Council.
