Siddu- DKS lock horns over youth congress chief post
B.ARAVINDA SHETTY
Bengaluru: Internal rift between KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar and Opposition leader Siddaramaiah has come to light over the appointment of KPCC youth congress President.
Mr. Siddaramaiah has supported the continuation of Raksha Ramaiah, son of former minister M.R. Seetharam in the youth President post. However D.K. Shivakumar has supported M.H. Nalapad, son of Shantinagara MLA, N.A. Haris.
However, KPCC President's decision to change of youth Congress President's post has irked Mr. Siddaramaiah. Mr. Shivakumar has proposed a formula of 50:50 power-sharing between both youth leaders. But Mr. Ramaiah has rejected the proposals, sought the intervention of Mr. Siddaramaiah.
Though Mr. Shivakumar has called both the leaders to his house and asked them to share the power at 50:50 formula. Raksha Ramaiah has rejected his offer and walked out of the meeting.
Read: Youth congress chief post: leaders agree for power-sharing formula
Mr. Siddaramaiah has opposed appointing Nalapad as the President since criminal charges have been pending against him in the court. KPCC President has worked out a formula based on the instructions of party high command. Mr. Nalapad, through his father, prevailed upon party high command to become youth Congress president. KPCC Karnataka, in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, also agreed to this formula. Mr. Shivakumar has also supported for sharing of power between the two.
Rift over youth congress president post had erupted when KPCC President was above to announce Mr. Nalapad as KPCC youth congress president for one and half years term. However, with the intervention of Mr. Siddaramaiah announcement was put on hold.
To pacify Siddaramaiah, National youth congress president B.V. Srinivas rushed to his residence and explained the power-sharing formula, but the opposition leader did not agree to the same. Instead, Siddaramaiah has advised for the continuation of Raksha Ramaiah in the post, but KPCC President has not agreed to the suggestions proposed by the opposition leader.
In late evening meeting held at D.K. Shivakumar's house between two waring youth leaders but they failed to arrive at any consensus over President's post.
Read: Siddu requests his supporters not to call him future cm
Mr. Nalapad refused to budge the request of party leaders; he insisted for the President's post. He and his supporters had met Siddaramaiah here on Wednesday requesting him to support his candidature for the President post.
Sources said that by today evening KPCC will arrive amicable solution to the problem and will convince both the leaders to share the power on 50: 50 formula as worked out by KPCC President.
Another proposal also been circulated in the party regarding appointment of third candidate as KPCC youth President. Name of Dakshina Kannada youth congress leader Mithun Rai is being rounds in party circle for youth congress chief post.
Controversy erupted out soon after the results of the election to youth congress president post. Party has declared that Nalapad has won the elections; due to pending criminal cases against him, Raksha's group has opposed him to take charge. Party high command has agreed to appoint Raksha Ramaiah for the youth President post.
