DK’s plan backfires; workers quarrel in meetings over tickets

Local leaders are unhappy over four to five aspirants for each constituency with some identifying themselves with the Shivakumar faction and others with the Siddaramaiah faction

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: The decision to call for applications from ticket aspirants for the 2 02 3 Assembly elections has literally backfired for the Congress Party. Though it was done by KPCC President D.K.Shivakumar to get aspirants to prepare for the crucial polls in time with the approval of the high command, it has created confusion, controversy and commotion in several district Congress units.

Incidents of party workers upping the ante with rival groups have become a common scene. The workers of the Hosakote Congress unit almost came to blows over the ticket to sitting MLA Sharath Bachegowda on the ground that he is an outsider and had joined the Congress Party recently.

Recently, a section of Congress leaders had also held a meeting to oppose the allotment of the ticket to Nayana Motamma, daughter of former minister Motamma, alleging that she became active just a few months ago, and did not have any connect with the grassroots.

These leaders have dema nded that the ticket should be given only to those who have been fighting the sitting BJP MLA of Mudigere M.P. Kumaraswamy in past elections. The ‘para dropping’ of Nayana on Mudigere constituency has not gone down well with these Congress leaders who may even not hesitate to work against Nayana Mota mma, said sources.

Such complaints are common in over 50 constituencies across the State since the Congress Party is tipped to emerge as the single largest party in the current situation. Local leaders are unhappy over four to five aspirants for each constituency with some identifying themselves with the Shivakumar faction and others with the Siddaramaiah faction.

This factionalism may impact the Congress party in the coming Assembly polls too. Hitherto, the high command used to finalise the list in consultation with local leaders and those denied tickets would keep quiet because of their hesitation to question the highest decision making body. Even Shivakumar had not expected his decision to create so much factionalism in the district units.

If this issue is not handled by the party correctly, those denied tickets are likely to approach the BJP seeking tickets. The ruling party is hoping to get good candidates like Mudda Hanumegowda and K.Jayaprakash Hegde because of these ‘skirmishes.’  

There are also reports of shadow boxing in Hassan over giving tickets to new faces by dumping the current legislators. This has put the Congress Party in a quandary and it is exploring ways to douse the fire of dissidence before it takes a toll of the party’s prospects.