KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad addressing the media at the party office in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has started a new, interview-based process to appoint its secretaries, with 920 applications received from across the state, including 308 from Bengaluru, KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad said on Thursday.
Speaking at a press conference at the KPCC office in Bengaluru, Hariprasad said the transparent method followed in Karnataka is modelled on the one used by the All India Congress Committee, which invited around 800 people nationwide, interviewed them for secretary posts and has already prepared a list. In Karnataka, applications were invited openly.
Interview panel and selection
The interviews were conducted by a committee of senior leaders that included Dr. G. Parameshwara, Dinesh Gundu Rao, B.L. Shankar, H.K. Patil, Lok Sabha member Tukaram, Nazir Ahmed and Rani Satish, the KPCC said. A total of 112 KPCC secretaries have been selected through the process, and the list of office-bearers of block Congress committees will also be announced soon.
Each of the 112 secretaries will be given charge of two Assembly constituencies and must work continuously on organisational activities there for a year and a half. Another 112 coordinators will also work alongside them. Hariprasad said the aim is to strengthen the party from the grassroots through secretaries and coordinators.
Asked whether party membership is required, he said a secretary must have completed at least five years of party membership. On why the new process was adopted, he said the party was choosing people who work among the people rather than selecting them in the office, and that they would have to work until the 2029 elections. He said OBC, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates, as well as women (33 per cent), have reservation in the posts.
Other remarks
- On appointments to boards and corporations, Hariprasad said the process will be complete after the second list; the first list has been released. Responding to a remark that Bengaluru workers have been wronged, he said it is only the first list and a complete list of posts will follow, adding that Congress workers are “gods” whose effort brought the party to power.
- Asked whether leaders K.N. Rajanna and Rajendra would be shown the door, he said they speak openly, nobody is telling them to leave and the party will retain them. He said only he and the Chief Minister speak on internal matters and no third person can.
- On Sonia Gandhi’s book, he said it will be unveiled at 12 noon on November 17.
- On the Hiriyur by-election not having been announced, he said the party is ready and the Election Commission has to speak on it.
KPCC vice-president Narayanaswamy, former minister Rani Satish, former Council member and KPCC media and communication department chairman Ramesh Babu and former Mayor Ramachandrappa were present at the press conference.
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