Rift in KPCC worries High Command

By A. Jayaram

BANGALORE, APRIL 8. The Chief Minister, Mr. S.M.Krishna, on Sunday left suddenly for Delhi in the wake of the rapid drop in the fortunes of the State Congress evidenced by the unceremonious exit of its President, Mr. V.S. Koujalgi.

Mr. Krishna, who cancelled all his engagements for Sunday and Monday on account of indisposition and was perhaps planning a quiet holiday, had to leave for Delhi as he was summoned by the AICC President, Ms. Sonia Gandhi.

Even as the Chief Minister was explaining to the AICC leaders in Delhi, the discord in the State Congress was in full evidence in Dharwad District, where two parallel or rival rallies were held against the NDA Government on the Tehelka issue.

The one in Dharwad had the patronage of two Cabinet Ministers, Mr. H.K. Patil (Major Irrigation) and Mr. Abdul Hakim Hindasgeri (Labour).

The other one, which had the backing of Mr. Koujalgi and was held in Hubli, was organised by some of the party MLAs.

According to party sources, the AICC is concerned over the serious dent in the popularity of the party following the exposure of Mr. Koujalgi's alleged venality especially at a time when it had declared a war on the BJP on the Tehelka issue.

The party has to counter the State BJP's demand for the resignation of the Chief Minister over the Koujalgi tape scandal.

The Congress in the State, which since last month's party plenary, was gunning for the resignation of the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, finds itself on the defensive.

One of the immediate concerns of the party is the appointment of a successor to Mr. Koujalgi as the KPCC has become headless at a time when it is organising rallies on the Tehelka issue.

An interim president is likely to be appointed. The Chief Minister is expected to discuss this with the AICC leaders.

It has not gone unnoticed that Mr. Koujalgi has lent a casteist angle to his resignation by stating that the campaign against him within the party was a ``great injustice to the Lingayat community'' to which he belongs.

In his letter to the AICC president (different from his letter of resignation), Mr. Koujalgi has accused Mr. Patil and Mr. Hindasgeri of planting stories against him in newspapers.

His counter attack against the two Ministers is being viewed as a rift between Lingayats and non-Lingayats in the Congress in North Karnataka.

While Mr. Patil is a Reddy Vokkaliga, Mr. Hindasgeri is a Muslim.

However, what Mr. Koujalgi has not mentioned is that two of those primarily responsible for his resignation, Dr. Mahendra Kanthi and Mr. A.K. Kotrashetty, former MP, are Lingayats. One of Mr. Koujalgi's lieutenants, Mr. Munavalli has also blamed the Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies, Mr. D.B. Inamdar, who too is a Lingayat.

As Mr. Koujalgi was not allowed to complete his term, there is a view in the party that he will be replaced by a Lingayat.

Among others, the name of Mr. B.S. Patil Sasanur, the elderly party MLA from Hoovinahippargi in Bijapur District, is being mentioned as the likely successor.

Mr. Sasanur is a former Minister and like Mr. Koujalgi, maintains a low profile. One of the PCC vice-presidents, Mr. M.V. Rajashekaran, MLC, who too is a Lingayat, is again being mentioned.

However, his name is also stated to be under consideration for election as Chairman of the Legislative Council.

Mr. Rajashekaran, who had lost to Mr. Dharam Singh in the PCC presidential election in 1997, is currently away in Japan.

Sober elements in the Congress are of the view that the party overdid the protest against the NDA Government on the Tehelka issue such as disruption of Parliament session, knowing full well that it could not claim to be anyway better when it came to fund- raising.

The campaign had boomeranged on itself.

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Section  : Southern States
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