No desire for KPCC Prez post, but will accept if offered: K N Rajanna

Team Udayavani, Jan 13, 2025, 9:34 AM IST

Minister for Cooperation K N Rajanna has stated that he does not aspire to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president position but will accept it if the party high command offers it. Speaking to the media in Udupi on Sunday, he said the decision on the KPCC presidency is likely to be finalized at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on Monday.

“I have not requested or applied for anything,” Rajanna clarified, adding, “I trust my party and the high command to make the best decision.”

Reacting to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s recent statement that “there is no need for anyone to lobby for the position,” Rajanna said, “He has expressed his opinion, and there is nothing wrong with it. My intention is to strengthen the party by taking the grassroots communities into confidence. This does not mean opposing or discriminating against other communities. I want to build trust among all communities.”

Rajanna emphasized the importance of empowering party workers in the upcoming local elections, including Gram Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat, and Zilla Panchayat polls. “These elections are crucial for giving power to our grassroots workers, who are the backbone of the party. Properly managing these polls will benefit us in the forthcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections,” he said.

Acknowledging the existence of factionalism within political parties, Rajanna said, “Tell me which party does not have factionalism? It may be more pronounced in some and less in others. Even the Congress, which started in 1880, has had factions. From a democratic perspective, factionalism is healthy.”

Regarding the issue of Chief Ministerial power transfer, Rajanna stated that he had no information about it. “This is a matter to be decided by the high command,” he said.