Bengaluru, Mar 28 (UNI) In response to the ongoing tension within the Karnataka Congress regarding the allocation of the Kolar Lok Sabha seat, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday assured that the matter would be addressed in a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and reiterated that no party member would resign over the issue.
"There is pressure from candidates for the ticket in Kolar. It will be discussed in a meeting with the Chief Minister. No one will resign from the Party over this," he told reporters here.
Shivakumar emphasised the collective interest of the party over individual ambitions.
The DyCM expressed confidence in the Congress party's ability to compete against the BJP and JDS in the Bengaluru Rural constituency. He also highlighted past electoral victories against the Deve Gowda family, citing instances where Congress candidates emerged triumphant despite facing strong opposition.
Shivakumar specifically mentioned victories over Kumaraswamy and Anita Kumaraswamy, showcasing the party's track record of success in the region. He attributed these successes to the continued support of the people and the party's strong presence in the constituency.
Responding to a question regarding the BJP's decision to field Govind Karjol from Chitradurga, Shivakumar asserted the strength of the Congress's own candidate, Chandrappa. He argued that the BJP's choice of candidates, including denying tickets to sitting MPs and ministers, was indicative of internal weaknesses within the BJP in the state.
Addressing queries about star campaigners from the Congress, Shivakumar pointed out that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge hails from Karnataka itself.
He mentioned that the party had reached out to Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, requesting their presence in Karnataka for campaigning. However, Shivakumar also acknowledged the national commitments of these leaders, implying that their availability in Karnataka might be limited due to their extensive travel across the country for campaign purposes.
Voting for the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka will occur in two phases, on April 26 and May 7. The counting will take place on June 4.
The 2019 Lok Sabha elections saw a notable shift in Karnataka's political landscape, with the BJP emerging as the dominant force by securing a record 25 seats. In contrast, the Congress and JDS alliance suffered a considerable setback, winning only one seat each. UNI BDN SY SSP