MYSURU: In a huge jolt to the Congress in Mysuru, which is looking to come back to power in the state, senior Muslim leader Tanveer Sait has declared that he will no longer be active in electoral politics.
Sait, a five-term MLA, who represents Narasimharaja Assembly constituency, has written to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) stating that he does not intend to contest the upcoming election. Citing the murderous attack on him two years ago, Sait stated that he is no longer mentally and physically fit for the rough and tumble of electoral politics.
Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah and KPCC president D K Shivakumar have not yet agreed to Sait’s request and said they will decide on it later.
Meanwhile, as the news broke out, hundreds of the MLAs fans and supporters gathered at his house demanding that he should reconsider his decision. While one supporter tried to immolate himself by pouring kerosene on himself, another tried to jump off a house, but both were rescued by others who had gathered there.
“I have not recovered completely, and in view of my health condition, I decided to step back from electoral politics. But there is pressure from my supporters and my party leadership. For now, my stand remains unchanged”, he said.