With Eshwar Khandre becoming a Minister, Bidar has got representation in the State council of ministers after eight years.
A mechanical engineer from PDA College in Kalaburgi, Mr. Khandre is among the few leaders in the district who discuss issues in detail in meetings with officials. He won from Bhalki in 2008 and 2013, after facing defeat in 2004.
“We hope the Minister focuses on basic issues such as making agriculture remunerative, increasing irrigation potential and solving the problems of poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition among children and improve healthcare,” B.G. Shetkar, president of Bidar Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said.
Mr. Khandre is the second leader from the Khandre clan to be a minister and fourth leader to be MLA. His father, Bheemanna Khandre, had served as a Transport Minister in the Cabinet of Veerappa Moily. His elder brother Vijay Kumar and cousin Prakash Khandre have served as MLAs from Bhalki earlier.
Janardhan Poojary, the then Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, had expelled Eshwar Khandre and other leaders from the party in 2004, for alleged anti-party activities. They came back into the party soon and Mr. Khandre went onto serve as the district Congress committee president in 2013.
However, his elevation is bound to create fissures in the district Congress.
Rajshekar Patil, MLA for Humnabad, has expressed displeasure over the party choosing Mr. Khandre over him. He feels the former CM, N. Dharam Singh, is solely responsible for him missing the berth. “Mr. Singh does not realise that I was key to his son winning the Council seat last year. He remains ungrateful,” he told The Hindu. He hinted that he might quit the party. “ But I have not thought about it till now. I will announce my decision at the right time,” he said.
Party sources say he might consider joining the BJP just before the next Assembly polls. BJP does not have a strong claimant for the party ticket from Humnabad. Mr Patil’s father has been a BJP MLC. His brother-in-law is Suryakanth Nagamarapalli, BJP leader who is considered close to the former CM, B.S. Yeddyurappa, and the former deputy CM, R. Ashok.
Apart from being a strong Lingayat leader, Mr. Patil has some influence in two constituencies apart from Humnabad. His Assembly constituency extends to Rajeshwar and surrounding villages in Basavakalyan taluk and a part of Humnabad taluk was merged into the Bidar South constituency in 2008. He may weaken the party by moving out or remaining inactive.
However, Congress leaders deny anything is amiss in the party. “Disappointment among leaders is common during reshuffles. We are confident the CM and the KPCC president will take everyone along ,” a district Congress committee office bearer said.
