The ongoing feud between KPCC president G. Parameshwar and Lingayat strongman and KPCC treasurer Shamanur Shivashankarappa has worsened with Dr Parameshwar asking the Davangere MLA to relinquish his post if he is unable to devote enough time to party work. Dr Parameshwar said in a letter written to Mr Shivashankarappa on September 7 that a KPCC office bearers’ meeting was convened on August 27 at 11 am at the KPCC office in Bengaluru which Shamanur was requested to attend without fail. In spite of the request, he was absent and did not give prior intimation about his skipping the meeting, the letter said, adding, “As it is an election year, your absence at the above meeting is of a serious nature”.
Further, the letter pointed out, “Your participation in such meetings is very important and will help in building the party organization. You are requested to participate in all future meetings without fail and cooperate in strengthening the party organization”. A copy of this letter has been forwarded to Madhusudhan Mistry, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka. Releasing this letter to media persons here on Monday, senior Congress leader K.C. Kondaiah, who is lobbying hard to make Mr Shvashankarappa president of the KPCC, launched a tirade against Dr Parameshwar for indulging in “politics of vengeance”.
He accused Dr Parameshwar of provoking other leaders in the party to write complaints against leaders supporting Shamanur for the KPCC chief’s post, and thereby creating factions in the party. The Lingayat lobby in the state Congress unit has been lobbying to make Shamanur Shivashankarappa KPCC chief.