The Hindu : Leader from OBCs may become PCC chief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 07, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

Leader from OBCs may become PCC chief

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Jan. 6. Serious moves are afoot in the Congress to find a successor to the KPCC President, Allum Veerabhadrappa, who is unwilling to continue in the post.

There are indications that a leader from among the OBCs would be appointed the PCC President and the names of the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, and Information, Kagodu Thimmappa, the Minister for Cooperation, H.Vishwanath, and the former minister, B.B.Chimmankatti, are in currency. In the process, the names of the member of the Rajya Sabha, M.V.Rajashekaran, who is a Lingayat, and the Minister for Higher Education, G.Parameshwar, who belongs to a Scheduled Caste, have receded into the background.

The Chief Minister, S.M.Krishna, who is in Delhi, is stated to have taken up the subject with the party president, Sonia Gandhi, as also other issues, such as the letter from the senior party MP, C.K.Jaffer Sharief, the changes in the ministry, and the three nominations to the Legislative Council.

The Minister for Water Resources, H.K.Patil, who has established a reputation for toeing an independent line on many issues, returned here after meeting Ms. Gandhi. According to sources close to him, Mr. Patil pleaded for selecting a leader who is dynamic and charismatic as the party was going to face the Assembly elections in October 2004. He should be a tall leader, he is stated to have impressed upon Ms. Gandhi.

The Minister for Large and Medium-scale Industries, R.V.Deshpande, is also stated to have met the party president. However, party sources said that Mr. Deshpande was in Delhi to invite Ms. Gandhi to Uttara Kannada District later this month.

Mr. Veerabhadrappa, who too was away in Delhi returned here on Sunday. He was made the PCC President in April 2002.

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