Revolt in Karnataka Congress? Senior leader says Siddaramaiah an outsider as discontent over ticket distribution grows

Amid protests over the distribution of tickets after the Congress party announced its first list, the revolt within the party seems to be growing as a senior leader called the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah an outsider, saying that the state leadership lacks the ability to take everyone along.

The Congress on Sunday night released its first list of 218 candidates for the May 12 elections, fielding Chief Minister Siddaramaiah from Chamundeshwari and state party chief G Parameshwara from Korategere.

When asked if people who came from JDS were given importance in ticket distribution, Congress leader KR Khan said, "It is a reality of our party. Our CM, along with others, came from JDS and so he gives more importance to them."

Khan also said that Siddaramaiah seems to have no attachment to leaders and party cadres.

Stating that it is sad that state leadership lacks the ability to take everyone along, he said, "New people have been given responsibilities, who don't even know how to treat seniors. If a high command doesn't take care of this aspect of state leadership it might bring losses for the party."

Supporters of several other leaders have become angry over the distribution of tickets. The dissident Congress workers in Karnataka's Mandya, Chikmaglur, Bengaluru and Bellary took out a rally and vandalised party's offices for denying ticket to Ravikumar and giving it to sitting MLA, actor Ambarish from Mandya.

Ravikumar's supporters also attacked party office and smashed the chairs and doors., demanding a ticket for him from Mandya.

Supporters of Anjana Murthy also protested after he was denied a ticket from Nelamangala constituency. R Narayanaswamy is the candidate from Nelamangala.

Karnataka is witnessing a three-corner contest among the Congress, BJP and the HD Deve Gowda-led JD (S). The result of the election will be out on May 15.

In ticket distribution, the party has not applied the "one-family, one-ticket" formula for the state polls as it granted tickets to the chief minister and his son, the Home Minister and his daughter, and the Law minister and his son.

The first list includes at least 15 women candidates and the names of the seven former JD-S and two ex-BJP legislators who joined the party earlier this year.

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy will contest the polls from BTM Layout and his daughter Soumya R from the Jayanagara Assembly constituency (Bengaluru).

Law minister T B Jayachandra's son Santosh Jayachandra was given a ticket from the Chikanayakanhalli Assembly seat (Tumkur).

Senior Congress leader's son Priyank Kharge was given a ticket and he will contest the polls from the Chitapur (Reserved) seat in Gulbarga district.

Sitting MLAs who were denied a ticket include Basavaraj Shivannavar from Badgy, Manohar Tehsildar from Hangal, Shiv Moorti Nayak from Mycunda, Turuverevere from Shriniwas and Sharabsherry from Tiptur.

Former BJP MLAs Nagendra and Anand Singh and former JD-S MLAs Zamir Ahmed Khan, Chelluvar Ayyasamy, Iqbal Ansari, Akhanda Srinivas Moorthi, Blakrishna, Bheema Nayak and Ramesh Bendi Siddhagowda were also given tickets. They joined the Congress recently.

The results of the election to the 224-seat Karnataka Assembly will be out on May 15.

Last week, former Chief Minister and Janata Dal (S) State president HD Kumaraswamy has claimed that he will not be the kingmaker but the king, and Siddaramaiah will be defeated.