Bengaluru: In a major development, seven independent MLAs met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday and pledged their support to Congress candidate ahead of next month’s elections to Rajya Sabha, thus bolstering the prospects of victory of the ruling party’s third candidate.
A photograph of these seven independent MLAs and energy minister D K Shivakumar along with Mr Siddaramaiah was released to the media
on Saturday night. Though the party has not declared its intention to field the third candidate, retired IPS officer K C Ramamurthy could get the nod of senior leaders to enter the fray along with former Union ministers, Oscar Fernandes and Jairam Ramesh.
The names of Mr Fernandes and Mr Ramesh were announced by the party in New Delhi on Saturday. Close on the heels of clearing two names for Rajya Sabha polls, Congress leaders gave their nod for four candidates, including state Youth Congress president Rizwan Arshad, for elections to the Legislative Council on Saturday.
Chief Minister Siddarmaiah reportedly batted in favour of Mr Arshad instead of Mr Naseer Ahmed, who reportedly figured in first list on Friday. According to AICC note, the names of former Kodagu DCC president, Veena Achaiah (woman), former KPCC president, Allum Veerabhadrappa (Lingayat), KPYCC president, Rizwan Arshad (Muslim) and former minister R. B. Thimmapur (SC) were cleared on Saturday.
Speaking to DC, a senior leader observed that Mr Siddaramaiah took a firm stand to field Mr Arshad who lost his Lok Sabha elections in 2014 from Bengaluru (Central) Lok Sabha constituency. “When former minister Mr Ahmed was favoured by several loyal Congress leaders, it was Mr Siddaramaiah who reportedly suggested that he had served for two terms as MLC and had lost Assembly elections in 2013.
Therefore, it would be better to field Mr Arshad who is the face of young Muslims,” the leader added. Besides, Ms Achaiah was reportedly given a ticket at the behest of party president, Sonia Gandhi, after reportedly quizzing both Mr Siddaramaiah and Dr Parameshwar why their list lacked the names of women candidates.
“Thus, Ms Achaiah made it to the list in order to ensure representation to Kodavas as well as Kodagu district,” the leader added. Meanwhile, sources in the party said former minister, R. B. Thimmapur, made it to the list as the party wanted to accommodate a Dalit, and former KPCC president, Mr Veerabhadrappa (Lingayat) replaced Veerana Mattikatti who would retire in June.
