Karnataka Congress to hold meet today; race for LOP intensifies

The Congress in Karnataka will be holding its legislature party meeting on Wednesday, as called by the party leader Siddaramaiah. According to the reports, the legislators are likely to discuss the damage caused by floods and relief measures undertaken by the government, cut in the allocation of funds to constituencies represented by party MLAs, and also drought in the State, among others. On the other hand, the race to the post of the Leader of Opposition has been intensified, however, there is no clarity of its discussion during Wednesday's meeting. According to reports, the session is scheduled for three days from October 10 to October 12 at 'Vidhana Soudha' in Bengaluru. 

Race for Leader of Opposition intensifies

Since BS Yediyurappa has taken over as the Chief Minister of Karnataka in July, following the fall of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government, the post of the leader of the opposition has been vacant. As Congress is now the principal opposition party in the assembly, the position goes to it. According to reports, the fight for the position has led to an infight among the members of the INC. On October 6, party General Secretary Madhusudan Mistry called a meeting with the legislators and party leaders for the selection of Congress Leader of Opposition ahead of the upcoming Assembly session in Karnataka. Mistry was entrusted with the collection of recommendations of 63 senior leaders which included MLAs, MPs, MLCs, and even former Ministers.

Read | MK Stalin urges Karnataka CM Yediyurappa to drop the Mekedatu project

Read | Indian Youth Congress take to the streets to protest MV act amendments

Siddaramaiah likely to be LOP

Republic had accessed a list of leaders consulted by Mistry. In the list, 2 MLAs — Byrathi Suresh and Zameer Ahmed — have a letter signed by 52 Congress MLAs supporting Siddaramaiah to be the Leader of Opposition. In opposition, senior Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha MP H Hanumanthappa on Sunday sat on a silent protest in front of the Congress office in Bengaluru. According to him, Congress leaders should stop "groupism" for the betterment of the country.

Read | Congress targets Delhi HC judge who denied bail plea to Chidambaram

Read | Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa to order CBI probe into alleged phone tapping under HD Kumaraswamy: 10 Things to Know

(With PTI inputs)