Koppal/ Bengaluru: One more leader of minorities and JD(S) legislator from Gangavati, Iqbal Ansari, hoisted the banner of revolt against party patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda and challenged him to expel him from the party, on Friday.
He told the media here “Mr Gowda always says that he will take action against me at an appropriate time. Let him initiate action now. I will bow my head to whatever decision he takes.” Taking a dig at state JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy, Mr Ansari, once considered a confidante of Mr Kumaraswamy, alleged that the former chief minister was conspiring to finish off minorities in the party.
He stated that he has difference of opinion with the former chief minister, and is no more interested to be associated with the party. Moving a step closer to Congress, he said he was working out a strategy to field his supporters on Congress ticket in taluk and ZP polls.
He said that he had supported the Congress in Lok Sabha polls in 2014 as well as recent elections to the Council from local bodies’ constituencies. “I spoke to CM Siddaramaiah for Congress party ticket for my supporters and he responded positively,” he added.
Meanwhile, sources said Koppal district JD(S) too was preparing a list of party-loyalists likely to contest zilla and taluk panchayat polls, leaving out supporters of Mr Ansari in the process.
Mr Gowda’s problems with minorities in his party commenced with former minister Zameer Ahamed Khan deciding not to campaign for the party candidate in Hebbal Assembly constituency and even alleged that the leader forced his decision on party men because he wanted to help the BJP in Hebbal and Bidar constituencies by splitting the votes of Muslims. In both these Assembly segments, the ruling Congress has given tickets to Muslim candidates.
Mr Zameer Ahamed Khan’s decision to adopt such a stand prompted his die-hard supporter and president of the minorities unit of JD (S), Mr Shakeel Ahamed Nawaz, to submit his resignation of Mr Gowda. He was also upset with Mr Gowda’s outbursts against Mr Zameer Ahamed Khan on whether the legislator belonged to Congress or Janata Dal (Secular). Mr Nawaz subsequently withdrew his resignation letter after a meeting with Mr Gowda.
Siddaramaiah under pressure from aides for ticket
Followers of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are putting pressure on their 'political mentor' to give them ticket to contest the coming zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat polls to be held in two phases on February 13 and 20.
Party sources told DC that many have informally launched their campaign in their respective ZP constituencies with thehope of getting ticket. A few ticket aspirants have formed a brigade of their supporters to exhibit their popularity before the CM, who is launching the election campaign in Mysuru on Saturday.
Sources said the party has finalised the list and it is likely to be announced on Sunday to prevent rebels from entering the fray. Mysuru is going to polls with 15 other districts on February 20 in the second phase. Monday is the last day to file nominations. The ‘B’ form will be issued a few hours before the deadline for filing nominations to check dissidence in the party over distribution of ticket.
Demand for Congress ticket is more this time since the party is in power in the State. Many aspirants are wooing party legislators who have been authorised to select candidates. Sources did not rule out rebels entering the fray if they were denied ticket and this may pose problems for party candidates. Dharmendra, a nephew of Public Works Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, has sought ticket to contest from Varuna, the constituency of CM Siddaramaiah. However, there are other local leaders who have been nurturing the constituency for many years.
