After a big board was put up in Maddur against Housing Minister M.H. Ambareesh for his alleged anti-party activities that led to the defeat of Ramya in the Lok Sabha elections from Mandya, a demand has been made to the KPCC to expel some leaders from the party.
Ms. Ramya had won the byelection from the same constituency in 2013 against Janata Dal (Secular) nominee, C.S. Puttaraju, by a margin of 67,611 votes. However, she lost to Mr. Puttaraju by a margin of 5,518 votes in the general elections.
Party leaders claimed that factional politics and internal differences in the Mandya District Congress Committee (MDCC) caused Ms. Ramya’s defeat.
The former president of Congress Seva Dal Ko.Pu. Gunashekar, a leader in Pandavapura taluk, said that he would take a delegation to Bangalore to raise the issue of anti-party activities of some leaders.
A senior leader and his supporters were responsible for the defeat of Ms. Ramya, Mr. Gunashekar, who resigned from the post of Seva Dal presidentafter the announcement of election results, told presspersons here.
“Ms. Ramya could have easily won. All-India Congress Committee observer Sathyan, in his report, has mentioned some leaders who were responsible for the defeat. The KPCC should expel such leaders,” he said.
Congress leaders in the district would shortly meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC president G. Parameshwara and explain the anti-party activities of some leaders, he said. Leaders identified with the Dalit, backward classes and minority wings of the party have also urged the KPCC to act against “leaders who allegedly worked against Ms. Ramya” during the elections.
Chalavadi Mahasabha president Kothathi Mahadevu, MDCC leader Ravishankar Biliguli, AHINDA Yuva Ghataka president Puttikoppalu Mari Gowda, G. Malligere gram panchayat president Gopala Avverahalliand others issued a joint press release on Saturday.
Leaders enjoying all benefits from the party had worked against the Congress candidate. The high command should act against them and include Narendra Swamy in the Cabinet, they demanded.
It may be recalled that differences between leaders identified with the former External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Mr. Ambareesh had come into the open, marring Ms. Ramya’s prospects in the elections. After the poll results were announced, party workers vented their ire against Mr. Ambareesh by putting up a huge board near the inspection bungalow circle on the Bangalore–Mysore highway in Maddur.
