BANGALORE: Reasons for Karnataka Congress poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections was given a new interpretation here on Wednesday.
Senior MLC M V Rajasekharan created a flutter in the party circles with his statements that had KPCC president G Parameshwara been inducted into the Siddaramaiah cabinet prior to the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress would have won five to six seats more in Karnataka. The party won just nine of the total 28 seats it contested. The BJP bagged 17 and the JD(S) two.
Rajasekharan’s statements at the Congress Bhavan here to observe former PM Rajiv Gandhi death anniversary resulted in workers, who had come from Tumkur district, raising slogans that dalits were being neglected. They demanded that Parmeshwara, who is a dalit and hails from Tumkur district should be inducted into the cabinet as deputy CM.
But it were some candid disclosures by former MP Taradevi Siddharth on how sometimes even the party high command is helpless before state units became a talking point. Recalling her association with Rajiv Gandhi, Siddharth said the former PM had promised a ticket to her in the legislative assembly elections then.
However, go back to Karnataka and don’t show your happiness as there will be attempts by state leaders to sabotage your chances,” Siddharth quoting Rajiv said. At the last minutes I failed to get the ticket. Later Rajiv ensured I was accommodated in the Rajya Sabha. Hence never be hopeful of party’s state leaders helping you,” she maintained.
The party observed the anniversary with screening a documentary-a tribute to Rajiv Gandhi- made by KPCC IT cell chairman P S Niranjan Rao.
