K C Venugopal : Karnataka Congress to decide new KPCC president by month end

Bengaluru: Speculation and confusion on selecting new president for Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) would be cleared by end of this month, said party's newly-appointed state in-charge KC Venugopal.

"There is some confusion on the continuance of incumbent Dr G Parameshwara who has done an excellent work as KPCC president. There will be a clear picture on this issue by end of this month,'' Venugopal told reporters at KPCC office here.

"I met 431 Congress leaders and had one-to-one discussions with them. I consider it as a marathon meeting with Congress leaders,'' he said.

Senior Congress leader H Vishwanath met Venugopal on Tuesday and expressed displeasure over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's style of functioning. He told Venugopal that he is on the verge of leaving Congress and few more Congress leaders will also quit the party shortly.

"I am not telling that there are no differences among Congress leaders but these are small differences compared with other political parties in Karnataka. Do you think there are no differences among the leaders of other political parties?'' he asked.

Appreciating Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for implementing various welfare schemes, he said Congress would certainly retain power in Karnataka by winning 2018 Assembly elections. "Siddaramaiah, as chief minister, has done excellent job by introducing welfare schemes. We have to take these welfare schemes to the doorsteps of people. We have to strengthen Congress at grassroots level in Karnataka,'' he said.

Denying Congress leaders complaining against Siddaramaiah and Parameshwara during the meetings held in last three days, he said Congress leaders in Karnataka are united. "I found an unprecedented unity among Congress leaders during the discussions held in the last three days. We are going to face Assembly elections with unity to prevent BJP coming to power in Karnataka,'' he said.