All the 39 councillors of Davangere City Corporation (belonging to the Congress) have tendered their resignations protesting against the decision of the party not to field former Minister S.S. Mallikarjun from Davangere North Assembly constituency. The councillors have faxed their resignation letters to the primary membership of the party to the KPCC office, Bangalore.
The councillors, who staged a dharna in front of the Congress office all through Monday night, decided to resign on Tuesday morning. Councillor Shivanahalli Ramesh said Mr. Mallikarjun was instrumental in the Congress sweep in the recent elections to the corporation and this was why all the councillors decided to resign.
Similarly, president of the District Women’s wing of the Congress, Pushpa Lakshman Swamy, and other office-bearers tendered their resignations to the primary membership of the party in protest.
Talking to The Hindu , Ms. Pushpa said Mr. Mallikarjun would win the elections if given the party ticket. She was perplexed that the party should deny ticket to a winnable candidate just because he was the son of a leader, Shyamanur Shivashankarappa, who is contesting from Davangere South constituency.
She said both father and son have been given ticket in many constituencies so why was the Shyamanur family made an exception. It is unfortunate that the party was not handling the ticket distribution process properly, even when the party is sure to win , she said.
To abstain from voting
Party workers held a meeting on Tuesday and passed a resolution that Mr. Mallikarjun be given party ticket from Davangere North. They also decided to abstain from the elections if the party gave ticket to another candidate. They faxed their resolution to the KPCC and AICC demanding that Mr. Mallikarjun be given ticket in the best interests of the party.
