Bangalore, Mar 18 : The bickering in the Congress got murkier as some MLAs were divided over the selection of a candidate for the Chamarajnagar Lok Sabha constituency.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi's decision to field sitting MP M Shivanna, who voted in favour of the UPA government during the trust vote in Parliament, has invited the wrath of a few legislators and local leaders.
In a bid to avert any negative impact, the Congress leaders, including eight MLAs, have toured Chamarajnagar constituency, urging the party workers to work for the victory of the candidate fielded by the high command.
It is learnt that former deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah has recommended the names of MLA R Druvanarayan and former Union minister Jaffer Sharief to be fielded from Chamarajnagar and Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituencies respectively. He had reportedly clarified that local MLAs were not in favour of Shivanna's candidature.
However, the high command did not consider his suggestions, reiterating its commitment to give the ticket to Manjunath Kunnur from Haveri, H T Sangliana from Bangalore Central and M Shivanna from Chamarajnagar.
Former Union minister V Srinivasa Prasad and former minister H S Mahadeva Prasad have also opposed the high command decision, citing Shivanna's bleak chances of defeating BJP candidate and former MLA A R Krishnamurthy.
As the party has almost cleared Shivanna's candidature, a few legislators have decided to write to the high command stating that they should not be held responsible for the poll outcome in case it is negative. They have also prevailed on Union Minister Oscar Fernandes to apprise the high command to field MLA R Druvanarayan or former MLA Jayanna in the constituency.
Meanwhile, a few leaders pleading anonymity, revealed that they would work for the victory of any candidate selected by the party high command.
Shivanna and HT Sangliana confident
Meanwhile, siting MP M Shivanna, who defected to the JD(S) to support the UPA government during the trust vote, has thrown his weight behind the high command. Scotching the reports that Congress MLAs are against his candidature, Shivanna claimed that many MLAs had assured him of working for his victory. "Some people with vested interests might have misled Siddaramaiah and Srinivasa Prasad.
My political opponents are conspiring to tarnish my image.
However, the Congress high command and leaders will help me take on the BJP in the elections," he said.
