Leaders of the faction-ridden state unit of Congress seem to have decided to go slow on disciplinary action against legislators who either criticized them or were allegedly involved in cross-voting during the recent elections to the Legislative Council. Highly placed sources said, “We cannot initiate any action against Hirekerur legislator B. C. Patil, who recently attacked the pradesh Congress committee president. At the same time, it will be difficult to act upon those likely to be identified by the committee to probe into cross voting, leading to the defeat of Mr Iqbal Ahmed Saradagi.”
The sources stated that the committee was doing everything it could to identify those who cross-and will be able to gather circumstantial evidence against the suspected legislators. If the party decides to act on the basis of circumstantial evidence, it may end-up attracting legal cases by those legislators and the party may not be able to defend itself in the court. So, the party will put action on hold and deny tickets to those who have come under the scanner,” the sources added
The sources said with Karnataka heading for elections to the Legislative Assembly within a year, initiating any disciplinary action against a legislator would not only have an adverse impact on the voter's psyche, the Opposition parties would also make the most of it to win over the community. In the process, the Congress would end up a loser on both counts. The party leaders, however, would keep an eye on these suspects in the run up to the Assembly elections.