Congress dissolves Karnataka unit after Lok Sabha debacle, retains state chief

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has announced the dissolution of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) after the poor performance of the grand old party in the Lok Sabha Elections 2019. However, the Congress has retained its state unit President Dinesh Gundu Rao and Working President Easwar B Khandre.

"The AICC has decided to dissolve the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). Its president (Rao) and working president (Khandre) remain unchanged," said Congress general secretary KC Venugopal in a statement.

The KPCC has 290 office-bearers, including former Central and state ministers, members of Parliament and the state legislature and presidents of its district committees.

"The KPCC has been dissolved for restructuring in the aftermath of the party's poor performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections in which it was routed, winning only one seat," party spokesman Ravi Gowda told IANS in Bengaluru.

Differences within the Karnataka Congress have grown ever since the grand old party was routed in Lok Sabha in the state. The party is also facing problems of coordination in the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government in the southern state.

Meanwhile, Congress party on Tuesday suspended five-time MLA from Karnataka’s Shivajinagar constituency Roshan Baig for criticising former chief minister Siddaramaiah, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao.

"All India Congress Committee has approved the proposal sent by KPCC to take action against R Roshan Baig, MLA on account of his anti-party activities," the state Congress said in a release.

"He has been suspended from the party with immediate effect, on the basis of inquiry conducted on this matter," it said.

Lambasting Siddaramaiah, Baig had called him a person who thinks of himself as the greatest CLP leader. He had further criticised Siddaramaiah’s idea of trying to create a divide between Lingayats and Veerashaivas.  

Taking a dig at KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao, Roshan Baig had said, Rao is a flop. Congress needs 90% of the minority to vote, but don't want them during publicity campaigns. Minorities are just used as vote bank.”