Congress leaders meet commences to elect new leader

Bangalore, May 28(UNI) Congress High Command leaders today commenced individual meeting with the newly elected party members of the Karnataka to seek their opinion on the new leader of the party in the 13th State Assembly.

AICC General Secaretaries, Prithviraj Chavan, also in-charge for parkatana, and Digvijay Singh commenced the exercise this morning even as there were several claimants for the post of the leadership of opposition in the Assembly. Prominent among them included former Deputy Chief minister Siddaramaiah, one of the late entrants to the Congress from the Janata Dal (Secular), Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Mallikarjuna Kharge, and former Minsiters, D K Shivakumar and V Somanna (Govindaraj Nagar).

The Congress had won 80 seats in the elections, 15 more than it secured in 2004 though its share of votes dropped to 34.59 compared to 35.28 per cent it secured in the previous elections.

the party had finished second in 116 constituencies and third in 26.

The Congress leaders after taking individual opinion on the selection of new floor leader in the 13th assembly will submit their report to Party high command to take final decision. The central leaders would also present a comprehensive report to party central leaders over the failure of the party in coming to power in Karantaka.

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