Congress minority leaders to resign en masse

Angered over the defeat of party candidate Iqbal Ahmed Saradagi in council polls, Congress minority leaders in Karnataka have decided to resign en mass.

As MLAs of all three major political parties indulged in cross-voting, the Congress party suffered a major political embarrassment with its official candidate and former MP, Iqbal Ahmed suffering a humiliating defeat in the crucial elections to the 11 seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council held on Monday.

Adding to the embarrassment of both the Congress and ruling BJP, the JD(S) backed independent candidate Byarathi Suresh, a real estate baron, won the contest by bagging the highest number of 23 votes.

According to reports, state Congress president G Parmeshwar is on his way to meet KPCC office bearers and resolve the issue. But leader of opposition Siddaramayya may be happy with the poll outcome as Byarathi Suresh is considered his close aide.

G Parameshwar said, “We are forming a committee under Veerabhadrappa to enquire into cross voting issue.  The culprits will get punished.”

Earlier Siddaramayya had put down his papers when his aide C M Ibrahim did not get an MLC ticket, but he later changed his decision. “This is congress’ defeat. Cross voters will be punished” said Siddaramayya.