KPCC gets new chief after oscilating for three months

Bangalore, Sep 26 (UNI) Senior Congress leader R V Deshpande, who was named as the new Chief for the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) by the party High Command Sonia Gandhi last night has a task cut-out to lead the party in the coming by-elections for eight assembly seats as well as Lok Sabha elections due next year.

Mr Deshpande's selection came as a surprise former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was a strong contender according to earlier reports.

The post of the KPCC chief was vacant as Mr Mallikarjuna Kharge resigned to the post owning moral responsibility for the party's defeat in the May assembly elections in the state.

Mr Kharge, however, was elected as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in the State Legislative Assembly, outwitting Mr Siddaramaiah The Congress President was under great pressure against the appointment of Siddaramaiah as the new KPCC President as some of the Senior leaders in the state had urged the party chief to consider names of only those who were loyal to the party and not to consider new-comers to head the party.

Mr Siddaramaiah one of the prominent Janata Dal(S) leader in the state had joined Congress in 2005 after differences with former Prime Minister and JD(S) National President H D Deve Gowda.

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