Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Oct 20: The Congress high command, it is said, has identified the possibility of over a dozen legislators from the party including influential ministers deserting the party and joining the opposition camp at the time of election. To cushion the impact of the last minute jolt, it has instructed Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to be prepared with alternative plan in advance.
It is said that the high command had got wind of the mass desertion on the basis of survey conducted at the national level and intelligence reports. During his meeting with state leadership last week, in-charge of Congress affairs in the state, K C Venugopal, is said to have drawn the attention of the state leaders towards the chance of several leaders leaving the party. Sources say that Venugopal has advised the state unit to prepare a plan to counter the affect of this exodus if it happens.
Three senior ministers from Mumbai Karnataka and a young minister from Karnataka coast are said to be in touch with BJP. Some senior MLAs who were hopeful of becoming ministers and then had to accept the posts of the chairpersons of boards and corporations under pressure, are said to be among those who want to leave the party. Some of them plan to join BJP while some others will try their luck in JD(S), reports said. Although the high command is sure that three MLAs from Yadgir, Bidar and Vijayapura districts will eave the party, it feels it would be beneficial to concentrate on finding loyalists who can win the seats instead of pestering the current MLAs to change their minds.
The leadership of Congress has decided to give rest to people who are aged and those who suffer from chronic ailments. Although some legislators are seeking change of constituency for fear of impending defeat, the party has given clear signal that those who failed to keep touch with their constituencies and thereby spoiled their reputation will not get the party ticket. Therefore, the party is compelled to prepared 50 new faces for the coming assembly election in the state.
The party has identified revenue minister, Kagodu Thimmappa, assembly speaker, K B Koliwad, and former minister, Shamanur Shivashankarappa, as seniors and hence will try to convince them to withdraw from contesting next election. It is said that the daughter of Thimmappa and son of Koliwad are interested in entering electoral politics. At the same time, there are guesses that legislators, B B Chimmanakatti, B B Tahsildar, G Ramakrshna, H P Rajesh, Rudresh Gowda and Ambareesh might find it hard to get tickets because of their poor health.
Finding alternative candidates has become tougher now as party's national leadership wants choice of candidates based not only on the basis of chances of victory, but also on good conduct, and that they should not be facing any serious cases.