RL Jalappa (File photo) 
India

Margaret Alva gets Jalappa's support

Beleagured Congress leader Margaret Alva found support from RL Jalappa, who endorsed her allegations.

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BANGALORE: Under attack from partymen for her outbursts on distribution of tickets in the last assembly polls in Karnataka, beleagured Congress leader Margaret Alva found support from senior Congress leader RL Jalappa.

"I endorse the views expressed by Margaret Alva. I will reveal certain things that are in my mind on the affairs of the party the day I quit my Lok Sabha membership and announce my retirement from active politics", the former Union Minister told reporters here.

Alva, Congress general secretary, resigned her post after the party's Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) apparently threatened action against her for her allegation that tickets were sold during Karnataka assembly polls early this year. She had made the charge last week questioning denial of ticket to her son Nivedita.

Jalappa said he would resign his Lok Sabha membership the day the Election Commission announced dates for by-election to eight assembly constituencies in Karnataka.

The prominent backward class leader, who has been expressing his displeasure over party affairs in Karnataka for some time now, particularly after the Congress rout in the assembly polls held in May, refused to divulge the issue he planned to disclose.

Asked about the the Congress High Command's reported plans to take disciplinary action against him, he said "let them take. The high command has powers to act". But he hastened to add "I have not done anything that would damage the party's image".

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