The Hindu : Hassan Congress workers hit out at leaders

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 08, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Hassan Congress workers hit out at leaders

By Our Staff Correspondent

HASSAN APRIL 7. Squabbles in the Hassan District Congress Committee (DCC) came to the fore in the presence of the AICC Secretary, Ved Prakash, during an interaction here on Monday at the Congress Bhavan.

Party workers, and leaders of various wings expressed their displeasure over the admission of MLAs, who were expelled from the BJP, into the party. They alleged that the top leaders favoured BJP workers. A few leaders even warned the AICC and the KPCC leaders that the attitude would cost the party heavily in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

The Holenarsipur MLA, Dodde Gowda, while commending the efforts of party workers in defeating the former prime minister, H.D.Deve Gowda, said the leaders should take the grassroots workers into confidence. Without naming anybody, he said it was not possible to organise the party by force.

Gurudev, who was defeated by B.B.Shivappa in Sakleshpur Assembly Constituency, regretted that the BJP MLAs who had aligned themselves with the Congress voted for the Janata Dal (United) candidate, Vijay Mallya, in the elections to the Rajya Sabha, by defying the direction of the party.

While criticising the admission of the MLAs into the party, he said the Congress was strong enough to face any opposition without the help of these MLAs, who were only after power. He urged the leaders from the AICC and the KPCC to convey their sentiments to the party leaders. He clarified that the workers would fight for their rights if the party did not take cognisance of their feelings.

B.Mallesh, who lost to Puttaranganath of the BJP in Belur Assembly Constituency, blamed the party leaders for his defeat. He said because of the "anti-party activities" of a few leaders, he lost the election by a margin of 846 votes.

When Mr. Mallesh started accusing the "top" leaders, a former DCC president asked him to confine himself to organisational problems. But party workers supported Mr. Mallesh. While continuing his tirade against the senior party leaders, he alleged that the BJP workers benefited more even though the Congress was in power. He lambasted the KPCC leaders for neglecting their problems. He regretted that although Belur was a reserved constituency, no representation had been given to this category.

The President of the Hassan Zilla Panchayat, G.S.Gurusiddappa, warned that it would be difficult for the party to retain the four Assembly seats in the district, if the leadership did not stem the rot now.

The President of Hassan City Municipal Council (CMC), Chennaveerappa, alleged that the associate members of the party were creating problems in development works.

The President of women's wing of the party, Lalithamma, said the party workers were being neglected by the senior leaders.

K.M.Raje Gowda, former president of the DCC, said the unity of workers had led to the defeat of the former prime minister.

He alleged that senior leaders were supporting those who criticised the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi, during the election. He urged the leaders on the dais to tell them as to whom they should follow.

S.V.Anand, also a former president of the DCC, called upon the workers to strengthen the party in view of the impending elections.

A.T.Ramaswamy, former MLA who vehemently protested against the admission of A.Manju, Arkalgud MLA, into the party, alleged that the new MLAs indulged in "anti-party activities".

He alleged that the associate members, who identified themselves with the communal forces, wanted to join the Congress only for the sake of power.

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Hassan Congress workers hit out at leaders