New Delhi/Bangalore, November 11
Under attack from partymen for her outbursts on distribution of tickets in the last assembly polls in Karnataka, beleaguered Congress leader Margaret Alva found support from senior Congress leader R.L. Jalappa.
“I endorse the views expressed by Margaret Alva. I will reveal certain things that are in my mind on the affairs of the party the day I quit my Lok Sabha membership and announce my retirement from active politics”, the former union minister told reporters here.
Jalappa said he would resign his Lok Sabha membership the day the Election Commission announced dates for the byelection to eight assembly constituencies in Karnataka.
The prominent backward class leader, who has been expressing his displeasure over party affairs in Karnataka for some time now, particularly after the Congress rout in the assembly polls held in May, refused to divulge the issue he planned to disclose.
Asked about the Congress high command’s reported plans to take disciplinary action against him, he said, “Let them take. The high command has powers to act”. But he hastened to add: “I have not done anything that would damage the party’s image”.
Meanwhile, Alva resigned as AICC general secretary after party president Sonia Gan dhi and her close aides took a serious view of her allegations. Alva sent in her resignation to Sonia this afternoon, a day after she met the party chief and disciplinary action committee chairman A.K. Antony.
In a clear indication that Alva’s isolation in the party is complete, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, campaigning in Chhattisgarh, expressed satisfaction over the ticket distribution. “As general secretary in-charge of the Youth Congress, I just make recommendations as far as younger boys are concerned, that’s all. I am not unhappy with the ticket distribution,” he underlined.
The 66-year-old party veteran, who has also been a central minister, had sent shock waves among the party cadre last week, alleging that assembly election tickets were sold in the party in Karnataka and questioned the denial of ticket to her son. She had also wondered how the relatives of various party leaders were now being given tickets for the upcoming assembly polls.
Her remark drew sharp criticism from all quarters, particularly the top party leadership. As a consequence, the matter was referred to the Antony-led disciplinary committee.
That she may attract disciplinary action became quite evident today when Congress chief spokesman M Veerappa Moily accused Alva of serious breach of discipline. “She is unhappy that her son was denied a ticket in the Karnataka assembly elections. The motivation is clearly there. It is not a moral issue,” he said.
Another senior Congress General secretary Digvijay Singh, who is in-charge of Karnataka, rebutted Alva’s charge, saying tickets are not sold in the Congress.
