K'taka: Mistry sent as observer to consult leaders amidst bickering

The Congress party has lost power in the state of Karnataka but that hasn't ended the wrestle for power within the party. Republic has obtained details of a meeting AICC observer Madhusudan Mistry held with 63 Congress leaders to collate their opinion on the position of leader of opposition in the Karnataka assembly (LoP). 

On Sunday, even as Mistry held meetings with a host of leaders, two legislators-B. Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan and Byrathi Suresh- tried to submit to him a letter with signatures of 52 MLAs of the Congress party endorsing the name of Siddaramaiah for the position of leader of opposition in Karnataka Assembly. A fight purportedly between old-timers and those who have joined the party in the last few years has broken out with several seniors like G Parameshwara, BK Hariprasad and KH Muniyappa opposing Siddaramiah as the single face of the party and power centre of the Karnataka Congress. 

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Close-door deliberations

While the strife for positions within the party has been deferring several decisions in Congress over the last couple of months, the Mistry was entrusted with holding closed-door deliberations with leaders including former MPS, MLAs and ministers to assimilate the situation in the state. The list of leaders that Mistry was told to meet, accessed by Republic, includes old party loyalists like Veerappa Moily, Oscar Fernandes, Margaret Alva who have not been actively involved in decision making in the recent past. 

Anticipating a tilt of power-scales, supporters of Siddaramiah tied to lobby for the former chief minister to be named as LoP, with the assertion that the majority of the legislators too have are in agreement. 

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Madhusudan Mistry opposed

Sources have told Republic that Madhusudan Mistry not just refused to accept the memorandum with signatures of 53 MLAs but also admonished the two legislators for their efforts. Stating that there should be no attempts made by them to subvert the process ascertained by the party high command, Mistry also reportedly told the MLAs that the judgement of veterans in the party too will be valued.

A new formula to be implemented by Congress party could spell trouble to Siddaramiah’s ambitions of being Lop. Sources have confirmed to the Republic that it has now been decided that any leader who already holds a position either within the party in a government will not be entrusted with another position of power. In view of this, followers of Siddaramiah fear that since he already is the Congress Legislative Party leader, he might miss the chance of being named LoP.

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