Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 10: There has been a demand for elaborate rehaul of Congress party's organisational mechanism in view of its pathetic performance in the recent Lok Sabha election. There is talk of thorough revamp of the organizational posts by holding those in key positions responsible for the party's disastrous performance.

There has also been demand for the replacement of the chairman of the coalition government's coordination committee at the state level, considering the fact that national president of the party, Rahul Gandhi, has tendered his resignation, owning responsibility for the party's utter loss. There has been a thrust from various circle to make Mallikarjun Kharge chairman of the coordination committee in place of Siddaramaiah.

Veteran Congress leaders, Roshan Baig and Ramalinga Reddy, have openly taken on Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, holding them responsible for the dismal performance of the party that won only one out of the 28 seats in Karnataka in the Lok Sabha election. Roshan Baig had also questioned the leadership skills of All India Congress general secretary, K C Venugopal, who is in-charge of party affairs in Karnataka.

It is said that in view of the ministry expansion exercise being undertaken on Wednesday in spite of opposition from senior Congress leaders, and also peeved by the neglect of senior leaders, veteran Congress leaders led by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee campaign committee president, H K Patil, have decided to meet on Monday. Former ministers, Roshan Baig, Ramalinga Reddy, Tanveer Sait and several other leaders are likely to meet informally and report to the party high command about their take on the political scenario in the state and the need to change the head of the government's coordination committee.

It is said that Roshan Baig has asked central leaders of the party, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel, to divest one of the two posts Siddaramaiah is currently holding in tune with the 'one man - one post' principle followed by the Congress. Siddaramaiah besides being the head of the Congress legislature party, also heads the coordination committee. Baig also told the leaders that because of stubborn stance taken by Siddaramaiah on various issues, the leaders of the coalition parties do not have harmonious relationship which is adversely influencing the administration. There is apprehension that this may adversely affect the party's future prospects. It is also said that Siddaramaiah continues to nurse animosity towards Kumaraswamy and Deve Gowda based on his past association with them, and this has angered both these leaders.

Senior leaders feel that if Mallikarjun Kharge is made in-charge of the coordination committee, the revolt will cease to exist, and the coalition government will move ahead smoothly.

In the meanwhile, there is a notion that if Rajiv Gandhi does not relent from his stand of not withdrawing his resignation, Mallikarjun Kharge may be chosen as the next national president of the party. The decision Rahul Gandhi may take on continuing as All India Congress Committee president will have a bearing on the suggestion to replace coordination committee chairman, party sources said.