Congress to decide on MLAs’ induction after polls: Source

The Congress party’s central leaders have put on hold the decision to announce the admission of several MLAs — some belong to the BJP and others independents — into the party fold, following the announcements of the elections to the urban local bodies (ULBs).

According to party sources, the KPCC had sent a list of 15 to 20 names of MLAs belonging to the BJP, Janata Dal (Secular) and the independents who had consented to join the Congress ahead of the elections.

The list also included the names of few ministers in the Jagadish Shettar government, the sources said.

Confirming that the party’s high command had deferred the decision to announce the names of MLAs and ministers who would be inducted into the party, KPCC president G Parameshwar said: “It was done not to create any confusion during the elections to the ULBs. The party high command had only applied temporary brake and has not rejected the KPCC’s recommendations.”

Exuding confidence that party would do better in the March 7 ULB elections, Parameshwar said, “There are instances of rebellion in several taluks and districts on the issue of party tickets to contest which would be sorted out amicably.”

Maintaining that the KPCC had left it to the discretion of the respective district committees to distribute party’s B forms, he said, “The KPCC had played no role in shortlisting the party nominees to the civic elections.”

Stating that the outcome of the civic body elections was not necessarily an indicator to the upcoming Assembly election result, Parameshwar said, “Only one-third of the total electorate would participate in the poll. It (poll result) would, however, help understand the minds of the people,” he said.