DHARWAD
The decision of the Congress to field former ministers Vinay Kulkarni and Santosh Lad from Dharwad and Kalghatgi for the upcoming assembly elections has sparked speculations of rebellion within.
Vinay was keen on contesting from Rural from where he had won twice earlier but the party top brass had insisted that he contest from Shiggaon against Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. Vinay had refused to oblige.
The reason for Congress not to consider Vinay for Dharwad 71 was that he is an accused in ZP member Yogeesh Gowda murder case and is out on conditional bail. The court has barred Vinay’s entry into Dharwad district. In the wake of the Court’s order, the Congress high command thought it could be difficult for Vinay to campaign in the constituency without entering it and hence was asking him to go to Shiggaon.
Hoping that Vinay will not get the ticket for Dharwad 71, Anjuman-E-Islam former President Ismail Tamatgar had sought the Congress ticket. Now that Vinay has been declared the official Congress candidate, Ismail is all set to contest either as an Independent or as JD(S)/AIMIM candidate.
The Congress is taking a big risk by fielding Vinay from a constituency where he is not allowed to enter, said a senior Muslim leader. Meanwhile, Vinay has approached the trial court seeking withdrawal of the ban on entering Dharwad district.
