Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Sep 15: It is learnt that All India Congress Committee (AICC), in strict enforcement of its 'one man -one post' policy, has instructed 16 ministers in the state who hold organizational posts in the party, to let go of their positions in the party. Under instructions from AICC, its general secretary, Janardan Dwivedi, issued strict instructions in this regard.

The order addressed to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Dr G Parameshwar, and chief minister, Siddaramaiah, has instructed both of them to strictly follow the above policy. Towards strict compliance with this policy, those who are enjoying government and party posts have been asked to choose to retain any one of them. It has been clarified that barring special cases, no one in the party can have two posts, one in government, the other in the organizational set up.

Therefore, excise minister, Sathish Jarkhiholi, minister for agriculture, Krishnabyre Gowda, women and child welfare minister, Umashree, transport minister, Ramalinga Reddy, and PWD minister, Dr H C Mahadevappa, will have to resign from the posts of the KPCC general secretary forthwith. Likewise, forest minister, Ramanath Rai (Dakshina Kannada district Congress Committee president), housing minister, Ambarish and information minister, Roshan Baig (KPCC vice presidents), food minister Dinesh Gundu Rao (Bangalore congress committee president), medical education minister, Dr Sharana Prakash Patil (Gulbarga DCC president), and health minister, U T Khadar (KPCC secretary), will be compelled to leave their party posts.

Horticulture minister, Shamanur Shivashankarappa, home minister, K J George, social welfare minister, H Anjaneya, minister for cooperation, Mahadev Prasad, state government's special representative in New Delhi, C S Nadagouda, who are office bearers of KPCC, also will have to resign from the party posts.

AICC vice president, Rahul Gandhi, had wanted strict compliance with the above rule last year itself. Although a couple of ministers including U T Khadar had resigned then, they continued in party posts as their replacements were not posted. The other ministers had not taken the instruction seriously enough.

With a number of party positions in state Congress falling vacant soon, a number of people waiting in the wings since long have been aspiring to bag these posts. At the same time, the opportunity for revamping of KPCC, which has been in limbo since sometime, will be available for the party top brass.