Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Feb 18: In the meeting of Congress workers convened here to seek suggestions for strengthening the organizational set up of the party on Tuesday February 17 turned into a show of strength by the supporters of ex-MP Janardhan Poojary who repeatedly insisted that he be made the party candidate from the local Loksabha constituency.
As Karnataka Pradesh Congress President R V Deshpande, who was expected to take part in the meeting was pre-occupied, ex-MLA Jalaja Naik took his place. Senior leader and programme convener, KPCC general secretary Manjunath Bhandary, Mohammed Badruddin, DK District Congress Committee (DCC) president Ramanath Rai, ex-MP Vinay Kumar Sorake etc were present.
After the inaugural, the leaders asked the workers to restrict themselves only to extending suggestions for the strengthening of the party organization, duly clarifying that it was not a meeting meant to select Loksabha candidate. The workers were specifically asked not to name the leaders while making complaints, but to confine their points to what had gone wrong. However, majority of speakers repeatedly demanded to make Janardhan Poojary the party candidate from the city constituency, even indirectly warning that the party may face utter reverses if any other candidate is fielded. Leaders like Mohan Shetty, DCC spokesperson Kallige Taranath Shetty, M G Hegde etc strongly supported the candidature of Poojary. After slogans were repeatedly raised at the meeting in favour of Poojary, Jalaja Naik asked the workers to remain quiet, duly noting that she has understood what they clamoured for.
Some suggestions that came up at the meeting were holding of programmes to collect views of workers at least thrice a year, selection of candidates a few months before the election, giving of party ticket to those who work for the party for a minimum period of five years, providing opportunities to youngsters in the publicity and media committees of the party, not entrusting any additional responsible positions to MLAs, ministers and MPs but instead, giving the same to younger leaders etc.