With the Lok Sabha Election 2024 just around the corner, a massive revolt has erupted in the Karnataka unit of Congress over poll ticket for the Kolar constituency. At least five party legislatures– three MLAs and two MLCs– have threatened to resign if Congress decides to field Chikkapeddanna, the son-in-law of state’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister KH Muniyappa, from the Lok Sabha seat.
Muniyappa has sought the Kolar ticket for his son-in-law by pointing out that the Congress has already given tickets to the children of his Cabinet colleagues. However, his rival faction is reportedly pushing for former Rajya Sabha member L Hanumanthaiah’s candidature. Hanumanthaiah is a Dalit leader.
The miffed legislators are claiming that Muniyappa’s family has benefitted enough from Congress with the opportunities and thus any leader belonging to the scheduled caste community should be fielded from the seat.
The legislators who threatened to resign include–Kolar MLA Kottur Manjunath, Maluru MLA KY Nanjegowda, setting Minister MC Sudhakar, MLC Anil Kumar, and MLC Nazir Ahmed.
Speaking on the matter, Higher Education Minister MC Sudhakar said, “We had a serious defense with the minister. His daughter Roopakala is already an MLA in KGF, we have no issues. Again, he is trying to bring in his son-in-law as a candidate. We have requested the Chief Minister, Deputy CM and high command because we have suffered a lot. I have respect for the party high command, but others must be given representation. Some are putting pressure on high command for tickets so there’s no point in continuing and let us just sit back at our home”.
The rebelling leader also went to the Bangalore Vidhana Soudha where the two MLCs wanted to tender their resignation. However, later sought time from the legislative council chairman Basavaraj Horatti after discussing the matter with the party’s Kolar District in-charge Minister Byrathi Suresh.
“They came to give resignation. If they give their resignations, I will accept them. They have their resignation on a white paper, I asked them to give it on letterheads. But they had a discussion with the district in-charge minister and now have sought more time,” said Horatti.
The leaders also reached out to the Legislative Assembly private secretary Mahesh Karjagi at the Vidhana Saudha as the Speaker UT Khader was not available at the office.
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, who was campaigning in Uttara Kannada, came to know about the dissatisfaction among the party leaders and warned them about not crossing the ‘Lakshman Rekha‘.
“I have learned through my leaders and media about the issue. There has been no final decision made on Kolar so far. No one needs to worry. Discipline is important in the Congress party. No one should forget the Lakshman Rekha. If there is a party, we all will be there. Without a party, we are no one. I have spoken to them. They have accepted too. I and CM will go to Bangalore and will sit and speak to them” Shivakumar said.
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