Dissidence, rebellion in Congress over ticket distribution ahead of Assembly election

BENGALURU: With a spate of new joinees in the Congress weeks ahead of the election, there is a huge tussle within the party over ticket distribution even as the party has announced that it will release a second list of candidates later on Tuesday.

In Shivamogga, Ayanur Manjunath resigned from the BJP and said that he will constest as a rebel candidate. While there is speculation that he may join the Congress, the party’s district president Sundareshan opposed giving the party ticket to Ayanur Manjunath stating that it should be given to someone who has worked for the party. He has also insisted that the Congress should not give the ticket party hoppers and even warned of protest.

In Bidar district, the Congress is facing rebellion where it has announced Rahim Khan as its candidate for the Bidar North Assembly seat. Influential leader Shashikumar Patil, who had sought the ticket under the Lingayat quota, said he has worked for the party for 30 years and had even appealed to the party high command to give him the ticket. Now, he has decided to contest and a rebel candidate.

In Bidar South constituency, the party faces the prospect of Chandra Singh contesting as a rebel after it announced Ashok Kheny as its candidate.

In Chikkamagalur, the Muslim community is opposed to the party’s nominee H D Thammaiah and has threatened to keep away from voting if the ticket is given to him. Over the last 3-4 days, there have been a series of meetings to oppose Thammaiah’s candidature and party worker have even almost come to blows. The Muslim community is insistent that the party give to ticket to one of the six aspirants who have applied to contest.