'Conspiracy' behind Koujalgi's exit?

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELGAUM, APRIL 7. The KPCC member, Mr. Shankar Munavalli, sought the expulsion of the Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies, Mr. D.B.Inamdar, here on Saturday for his alleged anti- party activities, including ``conspiracy'' against the KPCC President, Mr. V.S.Koujalgi, which led to his resignation.

In a letter faxed to the AICC President, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, Mr.Munavalli alleged that Mr. Inamdar, his personal secretary, Dr. Manu Baligar, and Dr. Mahendra Kanti hatched the conspiracy at a March 23 meeting. Following this, Mr. Inamdar called up Mr. Satish Jarkiholi, MLC, and also contacted Mr. Anil Kadam, who had complained against Mr. Koujalgi. These calls were recorded, he added.

On Friday evening, the video clippings allegedly showing Mr. Koujalgi accepting bribe, were shown to a select section of the Press. This was published in two newspapers on Saturday, when the Congress' protest rally against the Tehelka exposure was organised, he alleged.

These pointed out that Mr. Inamdar had ``connived'' with Mr. Jarkiholi in embarrassing both the party and its leadership in the State and at the national level. He said Mr. Inamdar, who considered Mr. Koujalgi as a rival, managed to ensure that the latter was not accommodated in the Krishna Ministry, when the Congress came to power in the State. But equations changed when Mr. Koujalgi became President of the party State unit, and the rivalry between the two escalated.

Mr. Munavalli urged Ms. Gandhi to expel Mr. Inamdar from the Congress, as he had caused tremendous damage to the reputation of the party at a time when it was campaigning against the corruption exposed by the Tehelka tapes.

He faxed a copy of the letter to the Chief Minister, Mr. S.M.Krishna, and requested him to remove Mr. Inamdar from the ministry.

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Section  : Southern States
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