Bengaluru: On the last day of his maiden visit to Bengaluru after taking over as the new AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, K.C. Venugopal is learnt to have strictly instructed his party leaders not to lobby for any post though they were welcome to share their thoughts and suggestions on how to improve the party’s prospects in Karnataka in the 2018 Assembly elections and 2019 general elections.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle after the party co-ordination committee meeting here, a senior leader in the Congress quoting Venugopal as saying, "Let me be very clear, I do not like people who raise slogans in favour or against any leader or those who openly criticise senior leaders. I also do not like those who become visible in party affairs only when leaders from New Delhi land here. I firmly believe that such people are of no help to the party, so please refrain from this ‘show-off’ culture."
Venugopal did not approve of party leaders making statements against their seniors in the state. "Senior leaders speak their mind and it might even embarrass the party at times but that doesn't mean second rung leaders can launch a tirade against them in public. As far as taking action against seniors is concerned, if anyone has violated party norms, the central leadership will take note and take action. So do not create confusion by making any ill-timed statements against seniors," the source said quoting Venugopal.
PCC chief: You will know by month-end
AICC general secretary, K. C. Venugopal on Wednesday asserted that party central leaders will put an end to the much asked question on who will be next PCC president, by the month end.
Earlier during the party co-ordination committee meeting, veteran leaders like Veerappa Moily and Margaret Alva had broached the topic and asked Venugopal to put an end to the speculation. Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah on his part reportedly appealed to Venugopal to ensure that whoever the party appoints as PCC head should be seen as a ‘neutral leader’ rather than belonging to a certain camp. "Any wrong message would prove costly for the party's comeback bid," the CM reportedly cautioned.
Ms Alva reportedly suggested that there was no precedent of changing the PCC head in the Congress when a membership drive is on and obliquely argued for the continuation of Dr Parameshwar as PCC chief.
Earlier in the day, the KPCC office witnessed several rounds of lobbying for the PCC president post with a supporter of incumbent KPCC chief Dr G. Parameshwar distributing pamphlets demanding that his term be extended by a year.
Give welfare schemes a boost
Mr Venogopal is learnt to have taken serious note of complaints by MLAs and other leaders that the ruling Congress has failed to publicise its various pro-people schemes like Anna Bhagya and Ksheera Bhagya and gain much needed brownie points in the run-up to the 2018 assembly poll. “Why are these schemes not visible? What steps can we take to turn this around before 2018?" he is said to have asked. His other query was about the lethargy of the party's frontal organisations in taking its programmes to the people.
