After being disappointed over losing key portfolios to the JD(S), several Congress leaders are believed to have expressed discontent over AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka K.C. Venugopal’s declaration that H.D. Kumaraswamy will be the Chief Minister for the entire five-year term.
Congress leader in the Lok Sabha M. Mallikarjun Kharge has reportedly criticised Mr. Venugopal’s decision of making the declaration during a joint press conference here on Friday. Mr. Kharge is said to have questioned the logic behind the decision to give full five-year term to the JD(S) when the Congress has won 79 seats.
Sources in the party said many leaders, including M. Veerappa Moily, had expressed disappointment over granting five-year term to Mr. Kumaraswamy, whose party has also been given key portfolios though it had not won even half the number of seats the Congress has won.
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Many leaders felt that it would be difficult to strengthen the Congress in the State under such terms.
Mr. Venugopal’s clarification on Friday was made in the light of reports that the Congress is trying to have rotational Chief Minister on a 30:30-month basis.
Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said the party’s central leadership had agreed to give the Chief Minister’s post for full term to Mr. Kumaraswamy.
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Meanwhile, in his last address to KPCC office-bearers and district unit office-bearers, Dr. Parameshwara said leaders who had already become Ministers two or three times would not be inducted into Mr. Kumaraswamy’s ministry.
He told the heads of the DCCs to submit reports on the defeat of the party candidates in the Assembly elections. He also told them to work hard to ensure the victory of the party in the coming local bodies elections.
New KPCC chief
The Deputy Chief Minister said a new president of the State Congress unit would be appointed soon.
Sources said the former Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar is expected to become the next president of the KPCC.