The former Mayor K. Asharf, who took charge as president of Mangalore City Block Congress Committee three weeks ago, has resigned from the post. With this, the rift in the district unit of the Congress has come to the fore.
On November 30, 2010, Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee president B. Ramanath Rai and Rakesh Malli, State unit president of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), reportedly argued in the VIP lounge in Mangalore airport before the arrival of G. Parameshwara, president, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.
According to party sources, the argument was in connection with “anti-party activities”. Mr. Malli had filed a complaint with Bajpe police over the incident.
Mr. Ashraf had been elected councillor in Mangalore City Corporation on Congress ticket thrice. At present, he is the councillor from the Port ward.
Mr. Ashraf in his letter to Mr. Parameshwara on December 30, a copy of which was released to the media, said that he was pained over the statement made by a senior leader of the party here on December 9, 2010.
The leader made the statement at a function organised for installing Mr. Ashraf as president of the city unit of the party.
The letter said the leader stated that some Congress workers were against electing Mr. Ashraf as Mayor when the Congress was in power in Mangalore City Corporation. The letter said the leader who made the statement was forcing him to indulge in group politics in the party. It was not possible for him to do so while holding a responsible post. He said the leader had insulted him in the presence of several Congress leaders.
Mr. Ashraf told The Hindu on Sunday that Mr. Rai tore his resignation letter. “I stand by my decision. I will not re-consider it,” he said.
The former Mayor said he wanted to resign the next day of taking charge.
