BENGALURU, 28 JULY

The race for Karnataka Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee President's post has attracted five aspirants. The incumbent will be chosen following a one-on-one interview by Alka Lamba, the All India Chief of Congress Women's Wing.

According to sources speaking to Salar News, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President DK Shivakumar has submitted a list of names for consideration. The list includes former MLA Sowmya Reddy, as well as party functionaries Kavitha Reddy, Kamalakshi Rajanna, Matilda D'Souza, and Krupa Alva.

While party spokesperson Aishwarya Manchanahalli Mahadev's name was also proposed, she is reportedly not keen on taking up the post.

The present President B Pushpa Amarnath’s five-year term, which started in 2018 has come to an end. She had previously sought an extension in light of the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. Lamba is set to meet the aspirants individually in New Delhi on Monday, following the protests organised by the Congress women's wing for the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act, 2023.

When contacted, Sowmya Reddy told Salar News that she was in New Delhi for the protest and that the party high command would make the decision.

Kavitha Reddy, who has previously missed out on various opportunities, including the MLC seat, emphasised her 15 years of commitment to the party and expressed optimism based on her merit and seniority.

“If merit and seniority are taken into account, I stand a fair chance as I have given 15 years of my time to the party. If caste quota and being a child of a party leader is taken as the yardstick, nothing can be done,” she told Salar News.

Notably, Amarnath is from a Scheduled Caste, and so is Rajanna. Kavitha and Sowmya belong to the Reddy Vokkaliga community; while Alva is a Bunt and D'Souza is Christian. Sources have indicated that the post has been held by individuals from the Christian, Muslim, OBC, Vokkaliga, and Lingayat communities, but not from the Reddy Vokkaliga community. Salar News