Date:21/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/21/stories/2007012105310300.htm

Karnataka - Bijapur

Congress to discuss agitation by Patil

Staff Correspondent

Opinions differ over whether or not party should support the MLA

BIJAPUR: The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has convened a meeting of district leaders in Bangalore on Monday to sort out differences of opinion among party workers over the agitation spearheaded by party MLA from Basavanabagewadi segment Shivanand Patil against alleged irregularities in the Jnanayogi Shivakumar Sugars Ltd. at Hirebevanur in Indi taluk.

The KPCC's decision came after its observers V.S. Koujalgi and Rohit Naikar failed to broker peace here on Friday.

The crisis worsened after District Congress Committee president Sharanappa Sunagar suspended senior vice-president of district unit N.S. Allolli; and Somanath Bagalkot and Shrishail Patil, presidents of party's Tikota and Babaleshwar block committees, respectively following chaos in the party meeting called by him to discuss the issue last Sunday.

The suspended leaders, who are camp followers of Tikota MLA and AICC member M.B. Patil, vehemently opposed Mr. Sunagar's decision to support Mr. Shivanand Patil's agitation.

Party sources told The Hindu that though the suspended leaders expressed regret before the KPCC observers about their "emotional" behaviour in Sunday meeting, they have stuck to their stand on the issue.

They said the sugar factory was a private one and the dispute was between factory president and Bijapur MP Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal and Mr. Shivanand Patil, who is a director of the factory.

The party could not support the agitation just because the party's MLA was in the forefront. They said the party should take a neutral stance and urged the party observers to revoke their suspension.

Mr. Sunagar strongly defended his decision to suspend them claiming that they tried to manhandle him and he handed over a video clipping to the observers to substantiate his claim.

However, Mr. Sunagar insisted on a written apology from the suspended leaders, who later submitted one to him but he was said to be unhappy with the wordings of the letter.

Mr. Naikar told the reporters here on Friday that Mr. Shivanand Patil did not consult the party before launching the agitation. In his view, this was a private affair.

On the suspension of three leaders, he said, decision would be taken in the proposed meeting at KPCC office on Monday.