With more than a dozen disgruntled Congress workers having filed nominations as rebels for the May 5 Assembly elections, the party leaders are trying to convince them to withdraw from the fray by promising posts of MLCs and chairpersons of boards and corporations in the State.
“At a time when there is a wave favourable to the Congress infighting and dissidence is likely to create problems. The party is worried that it will not only divide votes but also benefit the other parties,” said a Congress source.
With Lok Sabha elections scheduled in 2014, the party leaders are said to have assured H.M. Revanna a ticket from Bangalore Rural. “As he enjoys popularity in Magadi and surrounding areas, he has been assured of being allowed to contest from there,” a party source said.
Congress sources say that Rizwan Arshad, president of the Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress, been assured of being nominated as an MLC or a MP ticket from Bangalore Central. Some Youth Congress members have also been assured of posts of chairmanship of boards and corporations.
However, here are also those less easy to pacify like Ravindra Srinkantaiah, who has filed his nomination from Mandya where the party has fielded his bete noire, actor-politician M.H. Ambareesh, and from Sirangapatna.
“Mr Ravindra was denied ticket from Srirangapatna following stiff opposition from Ambareesh. He is a staunch follower of senior leader S.M. Krishna and if anyone has to convince him it is Mr. Krishna. However, with Mr. Krishna himself being sidelined, KPCC leaders are in a fix now,” the sources said and added that the leaders were confident of getting the rebels withdraw from the fray.
The last date for withdrawal of nominations is April 20.
