Moily, Bangarappa enter Cong poll fray

BANGALORE, June 8: With former chief ministers S Bangarappa and M Veerappa Moily determined to contest for the Karnataka Pradesh Congress C...

BANGALORE, June 8: With former chief ministers S Bangarappa and M Veerappa Moily determined to contest for the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) post, it may not be a smooth affair for the present party chief Dharam Singh in the elections slated for Tuesday.

Moily, who has identified himself with Sharad Pawar, one of the key contestants for the AICC president’s post, told The Indian Express that he would be filing his nomination as many party workers and recently elected PCC members were pressurising him to lead the party in the State. “I am sure Pawar will emerge as the

next AICC president and I would be elected with majority support here ”, he said.

Meanwhile, Bangarappa who is totally identified with Sitaram Kesri, is all set to file his nomination for the post. Though Bangarappa is yet to announce his decision, sources close to the former chief minister said that Bangarappa had changed his mind and was keen to play a lead role in the State politics. “I will make the announcement at an appropriate time”, Bangarappa said. Dharam Singh, who was appointed as interim president of the party by Sitaram Kesri five months ago, is busy mustering support of newly elected PCC members and also the leaders. Whether Dharam Singh would succeed in retaining his post depends on Bangarappa, who claims to have considerable support from the newly elected PCC members.

Interestingly, though both Bangarappa and Dharam Singh claim the support of Sitaram Kesri, the Kesri faction had so far neither asked Dharam Singh to contest nor discouraged Bangarappa from entering the fray. According to party sources, Bangarappa, known for his fighting spirits and mass base, has an edge over Dharam Singh if Moily contests. “The party needs a dynamic leader like Bangarappa who can take on the ruling Janata Dal and the BJP," said a party worker.