2 weeks ago
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With 4 Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka acceptable to autumn vacant adjacent period (June 25), leaders and workers from the Veerashaiva-Lingayat assemblage person begun demanding astatine slightest 2 tickets for their assemblage to guarantee “adequate representation” successful the Upper House of Parliament.
No person from the Veerashaiva-Lingayat assemblage has been elected to the Rajya Sabha from the electoral assemblage of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly successful the past 25 years. M.V. Rajasekharan was the past Veerashaiva-Lingayat person elected to the Rajya Sabha from the State successful 2002. He aboriginal served arsenic Minister of State for Planning successful the UPA government.
Theatre histrion B. Jayashree was nominated to the Rajya Sabha successful 2010 by the UPA government.
Retiring members
AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda, and BJP members K. Narayana and Eranna Kadadi are acceptable to discontinue from the Rajya Sabha connected June 25. The Election Commission is expected to denote the predetermination docket soon.
Over the years, the Congress has elected leaders specified arsenic S.M. Krishna, Rajeev Gowda, and G.C. Chandrashekar (all from the Vokkaliga community), K.C. Ramamurthy (Reddy Vokkaliga), Mr. Kharge and L. Hanumanthaiah (Dalit), Syed Naseer Hussain (Muslim), B.K. Hariprasad (OBC), Oscar Fernandes (Christian), and Jairam Ramesh (Brahmin), too Ajay Maken, erstwhile Delhi Congress president, to the Rajya Sabha.
In 2020, the Congress had besides supported JD(S) campaigner Mr. Deve Gowda for predetermination to the Rajya Sabha.
Following the Congress’s determination to tract sons/daughters of Ministers successful the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, and Lok Sabha elections, respective grassroots-level enactment leaders and workers person started voicing concerns implicit being denied opportunities and are present seeking practice successful the Rajya Sabha.
A enactment functionary said that though determination is simply a important beingness of Veerashaiva-Lingayat voters successful respective Assembly constituencies successful the Old Mysore region, the assemblage has not received capable representation. Only 2 MLAs of the ruling Congress — K. Shadakshari (Tiptur) and Ganesh Prasad (Gundlupet) — presently correspond the assemblage successful the region. Moreover, the assemblage has nary practice successful the AICC office-bearers’ list.
Family members only
Another enactment person alleged that galore Congress “dynastic” leaders look much focused connected promoting their ain household members than supporting loyal enactment workers. According to the leader, determination is increasing dissatisfaction among grassroots workers, who consciousness that elder leaders are ignoring their grievances.
In the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, the Congress is expected to question the re-election of Mr. Kharge. Several elder and inferior leaders are already vying for the 2 further seats the enactment is apt to win.
How numbers stack up
The Congress, which has 135 members successful the Assembly, is expected to clasp 3 Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka. In addition, 2 BJP legislators — S.T. Somashekar and Shivaram Hebbar — person turned rebels and are considered adjacent to the Congress. An Independent MLA is besides apt to enactment the ruling party. The BJP-JD(S) confederation is expected to unafraid 1 seat.
Members of the Muslim assemblage had earlier expressed displeasure implicit the denial of a summons for the Davangere South Assembly Constituency. Sources said Veerashaiva-Lingayat leaders, too, whitethorn consciousness disappointed if the enactment fails to nominate a typical from the assemblage to the Rajya Sabha.
“The nonaccomplishment to supply tickets to grassroots leaders and workers could adversely interaction the Congress’ prospects successful the 2028 Assembly elections,” the person said.
