Bangalore: Should the tainted get poll tickets? Should those who made a beeline for the party after the spectacular victory in the Assembly polls, be accommodated in the candidates list for the Lok Sabha elections?
These issues came up at a meeting of the Congress election committee meeting held Saturday night with leaders voicing reservations over the list of probables. Finally, they left the task to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Dr G. Parameshwar who will work with sitting MPs, MLAs and former MLAs and prepare a fresh list for the 28 Lok Sabha seats.
The debate centered around ‘tainted’ aspirants and whether the party should take community into consideration while allotting tickets. When the case of Chikkodi constituency came up, members opposed moves to give the ticket to a newcomer like BJP Rajya Sabha MP Prabhakar Kore's son, Amit Kore who has joined the Congress. They felt those who had served the organisation for at least five years, should be preferred.
KPCC president Dr Parameshwar’s statement that the high command was against giving tickets to the ‘tainted’, led to a heated debate with members suggesting that the state unit get the high command to clarify on the issue.
Former union minister, C.M. Ibrahim’s suggestion that five seats be set aside for the minorities, ran into opposition from petroleum and natural gas minister Veerappa Moily, Campaign committee chairman, Veeranna Mattikatti and Vokkaliga strongman D.K. Shivakumar.
Next: LS poll list: Cong leaves it to CM, Dr G
LS poll list: Cong leaves it to CM, Dr G
Bangalore: Expressing serious displeasure over the list of probables for the Lok Sabha polls presented to the party’s election committee on Saturday night, state Congress leaders suggested that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dr G. Parameshwar should work with sitting MPs, MLAs besides former MLAs and prepare a fresh list of probables.
The election committee meeting, which was to short-list candidates for all 28 Lok Sabha constituencies, could not complete the process as leaders raised objections to the proposed list and sought clarifications on the issue of ‘tainted’ aspirants and whether the party should give ticket on community lines.
When the election committee took up the case of Chikkodi constituency, members came out strongly against the party giving the ticket to a newcomer like BJP Rajya Sabha MP Prabhakar Kore's son, Amit Kore.
The majority of members felt that the party should give tickets to those who have served the organisation for at least five years. They felt the list wasn't proper and suggested that the CM and KPCC president prepare a fresh list of probables.
The meeting also witnessed heated arguments over ‘tainted’ candidates. KPCC president, Dr Parameshwar in his opening remarks disclosed that the high command was against giving tickets to the ‘tainted’.
At this juncture, many members protested and suggested that the party state unit seek clarity from the central leadership on this issue to which Dr Parameshwar agreed. The meeting could not discuss names for other constituencies as the leaders indulged in an argument over the proposition made by former union minister, C.M. Ibrahim.
He suggested that the party should reserve at least five seats for the minorities on the lines of seats reserved for SC/STs. This was backed by union minister for minority welfare, K. Rehman Khan but attracted opposition from Petroleum and natural gas minister, M. Veerappa Moily, Campaign committee chairman, Veeranna Mattikatti and Vokkaliga strongman, D.K. Shivakumar.
“Going by Ibrahim's preposition, the party will have to reserve seats for dominant communities like, Vokkaligas and Lingayats. "If seats are to be reserved on community lines, why do we need the Election Committee for such an exercise?" Moily reportedly said.
AICC senior leader, B.K. Hariprasad suggested that the party select candidates carefully. “In the past, we had won assembly elections and lost the ensuing parliament polls,” the source said quoting Hariprasad.
Former Union minister Janardhan Poojary suggested that the CM should stay away from decisions pertaining to controversial issues like ‘Made Snana’ and ‘Shaadi Bhagya’. “We have more important issues to deal with during an election year. If the government takes a tough stand on religious issues, it may prove counterproductive,” he reportedly said.
