BENGALURU: AICC general secretary K C Venugopal has warned of strict action against dissenters and those who air their grievances against the party in public.
Addressing a press meet on the final day of consultations with district-level leaders on Thursday, Venugopal said, “No leader should issue any statement in public or go to the media against any leader or the party. Any difference of opinion or grievances can be told to us. We will not tolerate it if they violate this.”
He further stressed that it was a clear line drawn for everybody and workers had to follow it.
“We are here to receive complaints and have it addressed. After hearing the complaints, we have also told them the importance and consequences of the coming polls. We expect complete discipline in the party,” he said.
He maintained that the opinion-gathering exercise in the last four days had thrown up only minor differences at the district level. Despite the ‘minor’ differences, the leadership has seen it fit to form coordination committees in the districts where there are factions. These committees will conduct a meeting every month and will be attended by the AICC secretary in-charge of that district. As of now, committees have been formed for Belagavi city and rural, Hubballi-Dharwad city and rural, Hassan, Tumakuru and Raichur. The number of districts where such panels are formed may increase.
Though Congress top leadership has announced that they will take a strong line against dissenters, they have shied away from taking action. On Tuesday, the KPCC leadership said they would suspend workers who had raised anti-CM slogans in Gangavathi of Koppal district, but settled for a show-cause notice. There was an open scuffle at the KPCC office on Wednesday between supporters of Minister A Manju and a rival faction from Hassan.
Venugopal himself was at a loss on how to react to former MP A H Vishwanath who has spoken against CM Siddaramaiah, after he met him and was requested to sort out matters internally.
Asked about why no action has been taken against Janardhan Poojari who has consistently made statements against Siddaramaiah’s functioning, Venugopal said that a Lakshman rekha had been drawn now and everybody had to conform to it. Many disgruntled leaders did not turn up for the consultations.
District ministers told to buck up
All the district ministers have been asked to spend more time in their respective districts and ensure that the government schemes are reaching the people. And MLAs have been told to focus exclusively on their constituencies for the next nine months and build good rapport with the people. All booth level and panchayat level reorganisation and appointment of booth-level agents will be completed by June 30. Venugopal reiterated that a decision would be taken before the end of this month about the new KPCC president.
Summoned to Delhi
All the top leaders from the state have been summoned to Delhi for meeting on May 29 with AICC President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi to discuss about KPCC president’s post. Apart from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC president G Parameshwara and working president Dinesh Gundu Rao, contenders to the post like D K Shivakumar and M B Patil will also be attending the meeting. Others attending are K J George, Roshan Baig, H K Patil, Mallikarjun Kharge and
Veerappa Moily.