Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G. Parameshwara has said that it was unbecoming of a leader of C.K. Jaffer Sharief’s stature to express his support to the Janata Dal (S), which has all along opposed the Congress.
He was speaking to presspersons on the sidelines of a party workers meeting here on Thursday. Dr. Parameshwara said Mr. Sharief, who had said he was supporting the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda to strengthen secular forces, should be aware that the JD(S) had joined hands with the BJP in the byelections to the Lok Sabha from Mandya and Bangalore (Rural) constituencies last year.
Describing Mr. Sharief as one of the tallest leaders of the party in the country, Dr. Parameshwara appealed him to remain in the Congress.
To a question, he said Mr. Sharief’s reaction after being denied ticket to contest from the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat was spontaneous and that even he would have reacted in a similar way. Dr. Parameshwara, however, said Mr. Sharief should understand that seniors should make way for youngsters and support them.
He said the KPCC had recommended Mr. Sharief’s name for the Bangalore Central constituency, but the party high command decided to give ticket to Karnataka Youth Congress president Rizwan Arshad. He said the party did not underestimated Mr. Sharief who had his own influence not only in Karnataka but also throughout India. “We appeal to him to stand by the party in this crucial hour,” he said.
On Kumar Bangarappa’s threat to file his nomination as a rebel candidate in the Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency, Dr. Parameshwara said Manjunath Bhandary, the party’s candidate, had worked in different capacities in the NSUI, Youth Congress and in the KPCC for more than 36 years. “We have to recognise the services of senior Congress workers and give them the opportunity… if we don’t do this there, will be disappointment,” he said.
To another question, he said Sugar Minister Prakash Hukkeri had been persuaded to contest from Chikkodi.
