Koujalgi 'elected' KPCC(I) president

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, DEC. 4. Mr. V. S. Koujalgi was this evening declared elected president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress(I) Committee after the AICC(I) president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, cleared his name.

The AICC's election authority for the State, Mr. Vakkom Purushothaman, declared Mr. Koujalgi elected as president.

The election of Mr. Koujalgi puts an end to the uncertainty with regard to the leadership of the party organisation in the State which surfaced despite the holding of organisational elections. Mr. Koujalgi was the interim President of the KPCC(I) since June 5 when he succeeded the Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, who gave up the party office.

However, the question still remains whether Mr. Koujalgi is an elected or a nominated President.

Mr. Purushothaman told presspersons that Ms. Sonia Gandhi had taken into consideration the fact that Mr. Koujalgi was the only candidate whose name had been proposed for the presidentship. The unanimous resolution passed at the general body meeting of the PCC(I) held here on November 12 had authorised the party High Command to appoint the next PCC(I) President, vice-presidents, treasurer, members of the executive committee and election committee and delegates to the AICC(I).

Mr. Purushothaman had left the question of appointing the KPCC(I) President to Ms. Sonia Gandhi even though the election process started on November 13.

Interest now centres on the AICC(I) decision with regard to selection of party members to other offices and committees.

Mr. Koujalgi, who is an MLA from Belgaum District, is a former minister and a former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

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